Conference on the Constitutional Convention. Harvard Law School, September 24–25, 2011

In response to a widely perceived dysfunctional political environment in Washington, D.C., attendees at a conference at Harvard Law School evaluated the potential and pitfalls of a possible remedy—a first-ever Article V convention to propose amendments to the Constitution.

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The September 24-25 event included sessions on the legal, political, and strategic considerations as well as the path to organizing such a convention, which Article V of the Constitution allows with the approval of two-thirds of state legislatures. (To be enacted, amendments brought forth from a convention must then be ratified by three-quarters of the states.) Speakers addressed issues such as the substance of amendments that could be proposed in a convention, who would participate, and the dangers of a “runaway” convention, in which delegates could overturn provisions of the existing Constitution. 

Welcome

Welcome - Conference on the Constitutional Convention from Rootstrikers on Vimeo.

Opening Remarks

Opening Remarks by Lawrence Lessig and Mark Meckler - Conference on the Constitutional Convention from Rootstrikers on Vimeo.

Legal Panel

Legal Panel - Conference on the Constitutional Convention from Rootstrikers on Vimeo.

Glenn Reynolds's Keynote

Glenn Reynolds Keynote - Conference on the Constitutional Convention from Rootstrikers on Vimeo.

Political Panel

Political Panel - Conference on the Constitutional Convention from Rootstrikers on Vimeo.

Strategic Panel

Strategic Panel - Conference on the Constitutional Convention from Rootstrikers on Vimeo.

Lawrence Lessig's Keynote

Sunday Closing Panel

Closing Panel - Conference on the Constitutional Convention from Rootstrikers on Vimeo.

Corporatons, Politics & the Constitution: Does Size Matter?

Corporatons, Politics & the Constitution: Does Size Matter? - Conference on the Constitutional Convention from Rootstrikers on Vimeo.