Idaho’s 2026 Legislature is beginning. Pending regulations will be finalized, new laws debated, and spending on old laws approved. This year, lobbyists will also ask them to support a resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution.
Of the two methods for drafting a Constitutional amendment, America has only used the “other” method: where two-thirds in each chamber of Congress (the House and the Senate) pass exact wording to be proposed. This goes to the fifty states for “ratification.” If three-quarters or 38 states ratify it, the National Archivist enrolls the amendment into the Constitution.
But the Constitution’s Article V provides another drafting process. Two-thirds of the States (34) can “call” or agree an amendment is necessary. If they do, representatives of all fifty states are selected to finalize a text. If these appointees agree on exact language, it goes out to the states for ratification. Again, three-quarters (38) must approve.
A growing number of national leaders believe America’s toughest challenges may be beyond Congress’s ability to solve. Some say the problem is structural to Congress itself. If true, the only “fix” is for states to step in and provide a Constitutional mandate.
Leading this call is the effort to force Congress to balance its budget. The group Balanced Budget Now! claims 27 states have “called” to draft a new fiscal discipline Constitutional amendment. Former Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter is on their national board, but Idaho is not among the states listed as already calling for the amendment.
It is not surprising, therefore, to see that Balanced Budget Now! has filed with the Secretary of State to register lobbyists who will “work” the Legislature to get Idaho’s name added.
Another national effort to limit Congress is spearheaded by U.S. Term Limits. Former Idaho State Treasurer Ron Crane is listed on their national board as Idaho State Chair.
Their website says 12 states have already issued a call to draft a term limit amendment, returning America to a citizen-led legislature. But Idaho is not one of them. U.S. Term Limits also has an Idaho lobbyist registered.
And there is an effort to elevate state voices on multiple issues, the aptly named “Convention of States” (COS) initiative. Nineteen states have already passed enabling resolutions for drafting amendments telling Congress to (1) fix their budget mess, (2) limit terms in office, and (3) do better oversight of new agency rules and regulations.
The national COS organization says 19 states have passed their enabling resolutions, and they claim success in at least one chamber in four more states. Their website promises “active legislation” in 15 more states. Idaho is one of those, and a lobbyist for COS is on file.
Why has Idaho been targeted? My hunch is because we’re reluctant to “call” for a new and unknown process. America has never amended the Constitution this way before. We don’t know what to expect. Can Idaho values be protected, or are we at the mercy of bigger states?
But that unknown is unnecessary. There is no provision of the Constitution requiring writing rules only after 34 states issue a call. Those rules could be written now. Speaker Johnson and Vice President Vance have both endorsed the COS approach. One of them leads the U.S. House, the other presides over the U.S. Senate.
It is risky to ask Idaho to seek to amend the Constitution before knowing every detail of how that process would work. A process protective of state sovereignty and fair to large urban and small rural states alike is a winner. The clarifying light shed by such detail may be what the remaining states need to get 34 in agreement on any “call.”
One thing is undeniable: inaction isn’t an option. The path we’re on goes off a cliff. There is a tool in the U.S. Constitution designed for this moment. We owe America’s future the wise use of the tools bequeathed to us. Our Constitution is amendable with wisdom, but never with fear.
(1) comment
You said "It is risky to ask Idaho to seek to amend the Constitution before knowing every detail of how that process would work." Yeah, will we continue to get more more than we contribute? My guess would be yes or we're not in. We're living on the primrose path and this suggestion may be too risky for our Idaho republican friends. They may have to start paying their fair share of tax's.
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