Credits to the advocate from my area who originally posted this: The John Birch Society State calls for a constitutional convention or con-con are getting dangerously close to the 34 states that are required to force Congress to call such a convention. For those unaware, a constitutional convention is a method of amending the Constitution. In fact, it’s one of two methods the Founding Fathers put in Article V of the Constitution. Simply put, the convention method originates in the states, while the other method originates in Congress. Read more on what a con-con is here. While some may think a constitutional convention sounds good, it is actually very dangerous for America. Especially considering the present state of the nation, there are many dangers to consider before taking such a risky step as convening an Article V convention. The danger starts with the convention delegates. How would the delegates be chosen? The Constitution is silent on this and with the current conditions of today, what special interest agendas would be represented? We have politicians who have helped create this mess, so the delegate selection process could easily be manipulated to ensure that special interests were well represented. Another question we have to ponder is, is the Constitution the problem, or is it the politicians who are not obeying the Constitution? Congress has a horrible approval rating with the American people, largely because of the influence of special interests, and yet this is the body that would “call a Convention.” Article V also allows Congress to send proposed amendments for ratification to either state legislatures or special state conventions. Therefore Congress has the option to bypass state legislatures completely during the ratification process for proposed amendments. Lastly, out of all the previously listed dangers of a constitutional convention, a “runaway” convention poses the greatest danger. There is no exact definition for a “runaway” convention; however, most refer to it as a convention that acts beyond its intended scope, much like the first Constitutional Convention. Such a convention may greatly alter any proposed single amendment, propose an unlimited number of additional amendments, or draft a totally new constitution with a new ratification procedure. That’s why it would be so dangerous and unwise to hold an Article V constitutional convention at this time of great political turmoil. Rather than trying to rein in Big Government by altering the Constitution with Article V, citizens and lawmakers should be reining in Big Government by enforcing the Constitution with Article VI. Whenever the federal government passes unconstitutional acts, it is up to the states to intervene and defend the Constitution. State and local officials, in keeping with their oath to the Constitution, are to ignore such acts and only enforce those that are actually made in pursuance of the Constitution. Article VI requires that both federal and state government officials take an oath to support the Constitution. That oath requires them to safeguard the Constitution, the states, and the people they serve by declaring unconstitutional laws null and void in their specific area of responsibility. To ensure that Article VI is applied, elected officials must be held accountable by we the people. They must take their oath of office seriously and abide by it. If they do not, the electorate has a duty to replace them. This is why we recommend Article VI, rather than Article V in order to rein in the federal government. What You Can Do To Help! Visit out ACT NOW section at JBS.org to see current Con-Con legislation in your state. Work with individuals to stop new Article V convention applications and to rescind already passed applications. Use Article VI to hold your elected officials accountable to the Constitution.