Convening a Constitutional Convention in Washington Through the Use of the Popular Initative

Authors

John W. Hempelmann

Abstract

Using Washington as a model for discussion this comment explores the doctrines which have limited the application of the flexible principles of popular sovereignty to the problems presented in the calling of a Constitutional Convention. The author concludes: that the people of the state of Washington can call such a convention by the use of the popular initiative; that earlier notions that changes in state governmental structure could only be accomplished by strict conformity to the procedures in the existing constitution have been supplanted by the resurgence of the doctrines of popular sovereignty; and that the broad theoretical underpinnings for popular sovereignty decry the soundness of the application of any maxims of interpretation which would deny the people, acting through the initiative, the power to call a Constitutional Convention.

First Page

535

Recommended Citation

John W. Hempelmann, Comment, Convening a Constitutional Convention in Washington Through the Use of the Popular Initative, 45 Wash. L. Rev. 535 (1970).
Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.uw.edu/wlr/vol45/iss3/7