In a moment of intensified national division, more than 110 law and undergraduate students from over 70 universities across the United States gathered in Phoenix, Arizona for the inaugural student-led US Model Constitutional Convention. Hosted by the Center for Constitutional Design at the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, this event gathers future legal professionals to assess and reimagine our nation’s most foundational document at a critical juncture.
The ongoing challenge in amending the US Constitution – a document that hasn’t been updated for a considerable time – looms even more complex when set against the backdrop of a fast-evolving 21st-century society. As such, questions surrounding the actual efficiency of the Constitution in our modern governance system are becoming more prominent.
Stephanie Lindquist, the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Design, echoes similar sentiments. She warns that a strict and inflexible constitution, unresponsive to changing circumstances, poses a significant threat to democracy.
Among the various constitutional change proposals considered, one notable amendment involved granting full voting rights to US territories in the Congress. A proposal that, despite encountering initial opposition, eventually garnered unanimous support from the committee. This consensus reflects a critical understanding of democracy’s essence – representing a united voice against taxation without representation.
However, not all proposed amendments achieved traction. Proposals regarding the legislative veto over executive regulations and limiting corporate personhood did not pass muster. The failure of the latter proposition – aimed primarily against the controversial Citizens United decision – highlighted the stark ideological divide within the committee and, by extension, the nation itself.
As the convention continues, delegates will have to tackle a suite of critical issues ranging from environmental protection and gerrymandering to equal rights, restorative justice, and tribal sovereignty. The ensuing dialogues and discussions will provide valuable insights into the future of our democracy and the ideal legacy that this generation of legal professionals would like to pass on to the next.
The full report of the proceedings can be found in the original dispatch by JP Leskovich, a rising 3L at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and JURIST’s News Managing Editor, who is providing exclusive coverage of the Constitutional Convention.