#1694 Is a Constitutional Convention Even Possible?

#1694 Is a Constitutional Convention Even Possible?

From Listening to America by Listening to America

March 9, 2026 · 52 min

About this episode

Clay discusses the feasibility and organization of a constitutional convention in America with historian Beau Breslin.

Clay's conversation with historian Beau Breslin about the nuts and bolts of a constitutional convention in America. Neither Clay nor Beau thinks such a convention is likely, given the constitutional conservatism of the American people, but if Americans chose to hold one around the 250th birthday of the United States, how would it be organized? How would we choose delegates to ensure, this time, that they truly represent our multicultural demographics? How would we avoid letting the lobbyists, professional politicians, and the media distort the process and ruin the project? Would it be possible in our time to enforce a secrecy rule among the delegates? What sort of civics training would we want them to undergo, and by whom? If we drafted a new constitution, what would the ratification process look like? As they discuss, Thomas Jefferson urged us to tear up the Constitution once every 19 years. This episode was recorded on February 12, 2026.

People in this episode

Host: Clay

Guest: Beau Breslin

Topics covered

  • constitutional convention
  • American history
  • civic engagement
  • democracy
  • representation
  • political process

Keywords

  • constitutional convention
  • Beau Breslin
  • Clay
  • American democracy
  • representation
  • civics training
  • Thomas Jefferson

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