California Federal Constitutional Convention Initiative (2018)

California Federal Constitutional Convention Initiative
Election date November 6, 2018
Topic Federal constitutional issues
Status Not on the ballot
Type State statute	Origin Citizens
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The California Federal Constitutional Convention Initiative (#17-0017) was not on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 6, 2018.

The measure would have tasked the California State Legislature with applying to Congress to hold a constitutional convention.

The measure would have asked that amendments be proposed that address civil rights, community rights, wages, federal taxes, natural and human environmental rights, renewable energy, and a path for states to secede from the United States.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The official ballot title was as follows:

“

Changes the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys. Initiative Statute.

”

Petition summary

The summary provided for inclusion on signature petition sheets was as follows:

“

Directs California Legislature to request that Congress call a federal constitutional convention to propose various amendments to the United States Constitution addressing, among other things, civil rights, the environment, federal taxation, and California’s sovereignty and independence. Instructs elected state officials to communicate with and support any other state that is interested in calling a federal constitutional convention.

”

Fiscal impact

Note: The fiscal impact statement for a California ballot initiative authorized for circulation is prepared by the state's legislative analyst and director of finance.

The fiscal impact statement was as follows:

“

Unknown, but potentially major, changes to state and local budgets if the measure withstands legal challenges, is approved by the voters, and results in three-quarters of states eventually approving amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

”

Full text

The full text of the initiative is available here.

Path to the ballot

See also: California signature requirements and Laws governing the initiative process in California

In California, the number of signatures needed to qualify a measure for the ballot is based on the total number of votes cast for the office of governor. For an initiated state statute, petitioners must collect signatures equal to 5 percent of the most recent gubernatorial vote. To get a measure on the 2018 ballot, the number of signatures required was 365,880. In California, initiatives can be circulated for 180 days. Signatures needed to be certified at least 131 days before the 2018 general election, which was around June 28, 2018. As the signature verification process can take several weeks, the California secretary of state issues suggested deadlines for several months before the certification deadline.

The timeline for the initiative is as follows:

• Clare Hedin submitted a letter requesting a title and summary on August 17, 2017.
• A title and summary were issued by the California attorney general's office on October 23, 2017.
• Proponents of the initiative needed to submit 365,880 valid signatures by April 23, 2018, in order for it to make the 2018 ballot.
• On March 22, 2018, proponents of the initiative withdrew it from consideration.

See also

• 2018 ballot measures
• California 2018 ballot propositions
• California ballot measures

External links

• Initiative Petition #17-0017