For over a century, the federal government has consistently disregarded constitutional boundaries on its power.
Today, most Americans realize that the federal government is out of control and many are looking for ways to rein it in.
There are two proposals being offered to accomplish this worthwhile goal.
First, some are promoting the calling of an Article V convention, also known as a “convention of the states” or a “con-con.”
Advocates of the Article V convention look to repair the Constitution. They believe that by adding one or more amendments to the Constitution, the federal beast will be forced back inside its constitutional cage.
This suggestion is risky, however, as the outcome of such a proceeding could open up the Constitution to the tinkering by those who might not be committed constitutionalists with the best interest of America in mind.
The constitutional convention approach is based on changing the Constitution. It is risky because the changes could end up being as radical as altering the fundamental structure of our government — and could even entail an entirely new Constitution, one without the protections of fundamental liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to keep and bear arms.
Fortunately, there is another path toward reining in the runaway federal government that doesn’t expose our Constitution to so many unnecessary risks — nullification.
Simply stated, nullification recognizes each state’s reserved power to nullify, or invalidate, any unconstitutional act of the federal government.
Nullification does not call for changing the Constitution, however, but for enforcing it. States that nullify congressional acts or presidential decrees that violate the Constitution would not only be stopping the federal juggernaut at their state borders, they would also be signaling that the Constitution is so vitally important that it must be followed.
Nullification is not a “quick fix.” But the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, not quick fixes. Americans can join together to create the understanding that will force elected officials to enforce the Constitution, and thereby avoid the more dangerous route of trying to restore the Constitution by “revising” the Constitution.
The John Birch Society invites Americans to join with them in working to demand that federal officials follow the Constitution, not to fix it.
