Wyoming Lawmakers Reject Proposal for Constitutional Convention

Wyoming lawmakers have voted against a proposal to call for a national convention to amend the US Constitution, Boise State Public Radio reports.

The vote effectively halts efforts to push for changes that some supporters believed would limit federal power and increase state control.

Proponents of the convention argued that such a move would help balance the influence between state and federal governments, with Rep. Daniel Singh (R-Cheyenne) emphasizing that a larger federal government often takes advantage of smaller state governments. Supporters hoped a convention could impose term limits on federal officials and curb national spending and regulations.

However, opponents expressed concerns about the potential risks of a constitutional convention, fearing that it could lead to unpredictable changes that might undermine the nation’s democratic system. Rep. Thomas Kelly (R-Sheridan) cautioned that the US Constitution was not broken and that calling for a convention could be a grave mistake.

The idea of using a convention to amend the Constitution is outlined in Article V, which allows states to call for a convention if at least 34 states agree. This method has never been tested, but 19 states, including Utah and Arizona, have already called for a convention to propose amendments, particularly for term limits and limitations on federal spending.

Despite the push in Wyoming, Senate Resolution 1, which called for the state to join the effort, was voted down in the House by a margin of 25 to 32. Idaho remains one of the states still considering whether to call for a convention.