Texas is aggressively moving forward on a resolution calling for a constitutional convention. Governor Greg Abbott and supporters of the idea say our governmental power is too centered on Washington and that's not what the framers wanted.
“There's this belief that the federal government is out of control,” says
South Texas College of Law-Houston professor Gerald Treece.
Treece says it would take 34 states to make the convention happen. The sentiment is strong enough, it could happen.
“It's the federal government (only) that says they have so much power,” Treece points out. “That's what a constitutional convention is trying to check.”
He says the governor is right to support the idea, but history shows only one constitutional convention has actually been effective -- the first one, where the Articles of Confederation were dropped and the current U.S. Constitution was written.