May 12 2008
Maryland Constitution Convention

Submitted by Jim
Every 20 years the question is placed on the ballot asking the people if they desire a Constitution Convention. This is really the only true voice left for the People of Maryland. I would like to encourage everyone to vote yes for the constitution convention in 2010.
Go check out http://www.mdconvention.org/index.html, Make sure to sign the guest book. Check back frequently as the page will be changing as updates come in. I sent emails to our politicians requesting their support but some of the responses I got back were troubling, ” I was not aware of this and will get back to you”, “I will investigate and get back to you” and my personal favorite “its on the ballot its up to the people.” This tells me that our politicians are OK with Status Quo, I for one am not, I’ve posted some information about the Convention below.
A little history on the Constitution
The current constitution was ratified in 1867 it forms the basic laws of the State of Maryland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Constitution
A provision in the document requires that every 20 years the people of the state be asked if a state constitutional convention should be convened. Such a convention is called if a majority of the voters request it. This question will next appear on the ballot in 2010.
I was forwarded an excerpt from a book by Dan Friedman called “The Maryland Constitution: A Reference Guide”
Some of the Notables that I read were :
“The enactment of Article XVII in both the 1930 and 1950, Small majorities of those voting on the question supported the convention. Nevertheless, The General Assembly declined to call the conventions because, although a slim majority of those who actually voted on the issue supported calling a convention. the legislature reasoned that the constitution required not mearly a majority of the votes on the question itself, but that the phrase “majority of voters as such election” requires that the supporters of a convention must form a majority of all people who voted at the general election on any issue for any candidate.”
“There was also a challenge to the constitutionality of the 1967-1968 constitution convention “because the sense of the people” was taken in 1966, four years too early. The court of appeals of Maryland made clear that the people of Maryland “retain the right to alter, reform or abolish their form of government in such a manner as they deem expedient” and thus may call for a convention whenever we choose.”
“It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to provide by Law for taking, at the general election to be held in the year nineteen hundred and seventy, and every twenty years thereafter, the sense of the People in regard to calling a Convention for altering this Constitution; and if a majority of voters at such election or elections shall vote for a Convention, the General Assembly, at its next session, shall provide by Law for the assembling of such convention, and for the election of Delegates thereto. Each County, and Legislative District of the City of Baltimore, shall have in such Convention a number of Delegates equal to its representation in both Houses at the time at which the Convention is called. But any Constitution, or change, or amendment of the existing Constitution, which may be adopted by such Convention, shall be submitted to the voters of this State, and shall have no effect unless the same shall have been adopted by a majority of the voters voting thereon.”


