Bill > SJM8008

This Joint Memorial, passed by the Washington State Legislature, formally withdraws all previous requests made by the state to the U.S. Congress to call a constitutional convention. The legislature cites concerns that past applications, made under Article V of the U.S. Constitution which allows states to request a convention for proposing amendments, might still be considered valid and could potentially be exploited by special interest groups to alter fundamental rights. They also note the historical uncertainty regarding the expiration of such applications and the potential for current generations to be bound by decisions made in different eras, emphasizing that any future need for constitutional reform through a convention should be a fresh debate.