[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Rhode-Island-Legislature.jpg” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”css” global_module=”1769″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”The Rhode Island State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse” subhead=”Information on Rhode Island’s constitutionally mandated Nov. 5, 2024 constitutional convention referendum, including news, opinion, and history” text_orientation=”center” content_max_width=”none” admin_label=”Fullwidth Sitewide Header” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ title_font_size=”40px” title_line_height=”1.3em” subhead_font_size=”24px” subhead_line_height=”1.3em” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f3ffc1″ transparent_background=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||51px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In recent decades, the quality of public deliberation about periodic\u00a0constitutional convention referendums in Rhode Island and elsewhere has been low. \u00a0In particular, there has been a lack of historical, comparative, and normative\u00a0information to help people understand this important democratic institution.<\/p>\n
RhodeIslandConCon.info and its accompanying website, The State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse<\/a>, seek to rectify this problem. \u00a0 In particular, RhodeIslandConCon.info seeks to elevate the quality of public deliberation on issues relevant to Rhode Island’s November 5, 2024 referendum on whether to convene a constitutional constitution, and, if voters pass the referendum, issues relevant to subsequent stages in the constitutional convention process.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text Website Header” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n J.H. Snider is the president of iSolon.org, a public policy institute that focuses on the most difficult areas of democratic reform\u2500where elected officials have a conflict of interest in bringing about reforms that might reduce their own power.<\/p>\n He has been a fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, New America (a DC-based thinktank), the American Political Science Association, and Northwestern University. \u00a0Dr. Snider has a Ph.D. in American Government from Northwestern University and an A.B. in Social Studies from Harvard College. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rhode Island Op-eds (2024 Cycle)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0The disinformation campaign against a R.I. constitutional convention<\/a>, Boston Globe, Nov. 2, 2024. Archived version can be found here<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H.,\u00a0RI voter handbook is biased against ballot Question 1<\/a>, Providence Journal, Oct. 19, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed can be found here<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Following the money on Question 1<\/a>, Rhode Island Current, Oct. 17, 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Stop using history to shoot down a constitutional convention<\/a>, Rhode Island Current, Oct. 7, 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Why the opposition\u2019s weird fixation on easily fixable ConCon flaws?<\/a>, Warwick Beacon, Oct. 3, 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Constitutional convention’s benefits outweigh cost<\/a>, Providence Journal, Sept. 7, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed was published under the title RI’s flawed obsession with a constitutional convention’s cost<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H., Legislature does a disservice to RI’s constitutional convention process<\/a>,\u00a0Providence Journal<\/em>, June 23, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed was published under the title Legislature is Subverting State\u2019s ConCon Process<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Snider, J.H., and Gary Sasse,\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s past time for RI to prep for Nov. 5 constitutional convention<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, May 12, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed was published under the title Give priority to prep for constitutional convention.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Rhode Island Op-eds (2014 Cycle) Constitutional Convention and the out-of-state-money bogeyman<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, October 24, 2014.<\/p>\n Constitutional Convention purpose? Democratic reform<\/a>\u00a0, Valley Breeze<\/em>,\u00a0October 21, 2014.<\/p>\n 1787: Vote No Against Convening a National Constitutional Convention<\/a>\u00a0(a satire), GoLocalProv<\/em>, October 17, 2014.<\/p>\n R.I. handbook shows blatant bias<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Providence Journal<\/em>, September 25, 2014.<\/p>\n R.I.\u2019s poor preparation for convention<\/a>,\u00a0Providence Journal<\/em>, August 2, 2014.<\/p>\n \u2018Dark money\u2019 drives R.I. constitutional convention votes<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Providence Journal<\/em>, June 13, 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n R.I. needs a constitutional convention<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, March 21, 2014.<\/p>\nWebsite<\/strong><\/h2>\n
J.H. Snider, Editor<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Constitutional Convention records speak for themselves<\/a>,Warwick Beacon<\/em>, November 4, 2014.<\/p>\n
![here<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., Following the money on Question 1<\/a>, Rhode Island Current, Oct. 17, 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., Stop using history to shoot down a constitutional convention<\/a>, Rhode Island Current, Oct. 7, 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., Why the opposition\u2019s weird fixation on easily fixable ConCon flaws?<\/a>, Warwick Beacon, Oct. 3, 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., Constitutional convention’s benefits outweigh cost<\/a>, Providence Journal, Sept. 7, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed was published under the title RI’s flawed obsession with a constitutional convention’s cost<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., Legislature does a disservice to RI’s constitutional convention process<\/a>,\u00a0Providence Journal<\/em>, June 23, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed was published under the title Legislature is Subverting State\u2019s ConCon Process<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., and Gary Sasse,\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s past time for RI to prep for Nov. 5 constitutional convention<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, May 12, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed was published under the title Give priority to prep for constitutional convention.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nRhode Island Op-eds (2014 Cycle)<\/strong>Constitutional Convention records speak for themselves<\/a>,Warwick Beacon<\/em>, November 4, 2014.<\/p>\nConstitutional Convention and the out-of-state-money bogeyman<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, October 24, 2014.<\/p>\nConstitutional Convention purpose? Democratic reform<\/a>\u00a0, Valley Breeze<\/em>,\u00a0October 21, 2014.<\/p>\n1787: Vote No Against Convening a National Constitutional Convention<\/a>\u00a0(a satire), GoLocalProv<\/em>, October 17, 2014.<\/p>\nR.I. handbook shows blatant bias<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Providence Journal<\/em>, September 25, 2014.<\/p>\nR.I.\u2019s poor preparation for convention<\/a>,\u00a0Providence Journal<\/em>, August 2, 2014.<\/p>\n\u2018Dark money\u2019 drives R.I. constitutional convention votes<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Providence Journal<\/em>, June 13, 2014.<\/span><\/p>\nR.I. needs a constitutional convention<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, March 21, 2014.<\/p>\nCompilation of Op-eds<\/strong><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., The U.S. State Con-Con Papers<\/a>, Social Science Research Network, June 24, 2024.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President (inscribed on Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC)” admin_label=”Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#7ebec5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.\n[\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.16″ height=”105px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/11-09-21-SafraCenterPhoto-HighResolution.jpeg.jpg” alt=”J.H. Snider” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image of J.H. Snider” _builder_version=”4.16″ animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Patrick T. Conley, author of Rhode Island’s periodic constitutional convention referendum” company_name=”Source: %22Political paranoia and constitutional constipation,%22 Warwick Beacon, August 22, 2024″ url=”https:\/\/www.warwickonline.com\/stories\/political-paranoia-and-constitutional-constipation,261479?” url_new_window=”on” admin_label=”Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_color=”#7ebec5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.warwickonline.com\/stories\/political-paranoia-and-constitutional-constipation,261479?” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n[T]his commentary is written primarily to address the fear of convention opponents.\u00a0 One negative argument suggests that a constitutional convention puts civil rights \u201cat risk.\u201d\u00a0 History emphatically proves the opposite.\u00a0 Our Article I \u2013 \u201cDeclaration of Certain Constitutional Rights and Principles\u201d \u2013 by its placement demonstrates the primary concern of our constitutional drafters for individual liberty.\u00a0 The 1973 convention (in which I served as secretary and delegate) expanded voting rights.\u00a0 The 1986 convention (in which I served as general counsel to the president) ensured the people\u2019s rights to our shoreline (Section 17); protected private property rights in cases of eminent domain (Section 16); banned any law abridging the freedom of speech (Section 21); gave rights to victims of crime (Section 23); and added a concluding provision (Section 24) to embrace the concept that the Rhode Island Constitution is to be interpreted as expanding and not limiting individual rights, even though similar rights in the U.S. Constitution may be more narrowly defined.\u00a0 So much for conventions as threats to civil rights!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f3ffc1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mission In recent decades, the quality of public deliberation about periodic\u00a0constitutional convention referendums in Rhode Island and elsewhere has been low. \u00a0In particular, there has been a lack of historical, comparative, and normative\u00a0information to help people understand this important democratic institution. RhodeIslandConCon.info and its accompanying website, The State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse, seek to rectify […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1737,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1775","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1775"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2832,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775\/revisions\/2832"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2024-10-19-ProvidenceJournal-JHSnider-RI-voter-handbook-is-biased-against-ballot-Question-1-Print-Version-e1729357568374.png\"){kind=link}
![RI’s flawed obsession with a constitutional convention’s cost<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., Legislature does a disservice to RI’s constitutional convention process<\/a>,\u00a0Providence Journal<\/em>, June 23, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed was published under the title Legislature is Subverting State\u2019s ConCon Process<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., and Gary Sasse,\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s past time for RI to prep for Nov. 5 constitutional convention<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, May 12, 2024. The print edition version of this op-ed was published under the title Give priority to prep for constitutional convention.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nRhode Island Op-eds (2014 Cycle)<\/strong>Constitutional Convention records speak for themselves<\/a>,Warwick Beacon<\/em>, November 4, 2014.<\/p>\nConstitutional Convention and the out-of-state-money bogeyman<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, October 24, 2014.<\/p>\nConstitutional Convention purpose? Democratic reform<\/a>\u00a0, Valley Breeze<\/em>,\u00a0October 21, 2014.<\/p>\n1787: Vote No Against Convening a National Constitutional Convention<\/a>\u00a0(a satire), GoLocalProv<\/em>, October 17, 2014.<\/p>\nR.I. handbook shows blatant bias<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Providence Journal<\/em>, September 25, 2014.<\/p>\nR.I.\u2019s poor preparation for convention<\/a>,\u00a0Providence Journal<\/em>, August 2, 2014.<\/p>\n\u2018Dark money\u2019 drives R.I. constitutional convention votes<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Providence Journal<\/em>, June 13, 2014.<\/span><\/p>\nR.I. needs a constitutional convention<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, March 21, 2014.<\/p>\nCompilation of Op-eds<\/strong><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., The U.S. State Con-Con Papers<\/a>, Social Science Research Network, June 24, 2024.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President (inscribed on Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC)” admin_label=”Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#7ebec5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.\n[\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.16″ height=”105px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/11-09-21-SafraCenterPhoto-HighResolution.jpeg.jpg” alt=”J.H. Snider” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image of J.H. Snider” _builder_version=”4.16″ animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Patrick T. Conley, author of Rhode Island’s periodic constitutional convention referendum” company_name=”Source: %22Political paranoia and constitutional constipation,%22 Warwick Beacon, August 22, 2024″ url=”https:\/\/www.warwickonline.com\/stories\/political-paranoia-and-constitutional-constipation,261479?” url_new_window=”on” admin_label=”Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_color=”#7ebec5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.warwickonline.com\/stories\/political-paranoia-and-constitutional-constipation,261479?” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n[T]his commentary is written primarily to address the fear of convention opponents.\u00a0 One negative argument suggests that a constitutional convention puts civil rights \u201cat risk.\u201d\u00a0 History emphatically proves the opposite.\u00a0 Our Article I \u2013 \u201cDeclaration of Certain Constitutional Rights and Principles\u201d \u2013 by its placement demonstrates the primary concern of our constitutional drafters for individual liberty.\u00a0 The 1973 convention (in which I served as secretary and delegate) expanded voting rights.\u00a0 The 1986 convention (in which I served as general counsel to the president) ensured the people\u2019s rights to our shoreline (Section 17); protected private property rights in cases of eminent domain (Section 16); banned any law abridging the freedom of speech (Section 21); gave rights to victims of crime (Section 23); and added a concluding provision (Section 24) to embrace the concept that the Rhode Island Constitution is to be interpreted as expanding and not limiting individual rights, even though similar rights in the U.S. Constitution may be more narrowly defined.\u00a0 So much for conventions as threats to civil rights!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f3ffc1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mission In recent decades, the quality of public deliberation about periodic\u00a0constitutional convention referendums in Rhode Island and elsewhere has been low. \u00a0In particular, there has been a lack of historical, comparative, and normative\u00a0information to help people understand this important democratic institution. RhodeIslandConCon.info and its accompanying website, The State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse, seek to rectify […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1737,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1775","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1775"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2832,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775\/revisions\/2832"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/2024-09-07-Providence-Journal-JHSnider-op-ed.png\"){kind=link}
![Give priority to prep for constitutional convention.<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nRhode Island Op-eds (2014 Cycle)<\/strong>Constitutional Convention records speak for themselves<\/a>,Warwick Beacon<\/em>, November 4, 2014.<\/p>\nConstitutional Convention and the out-of-state-money bogeyman<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, October 24, 2014.<\/p>\nConstitutional Convention purpose? Democratic reform<\/a>\u00a0, Valley Breeze<\/em>,\u00a0October 21, 2014.<\/p>\n1787: Vote No Against Convening a National Constitutional Convention<\/a>\u00a0(a satire), GoLocalProv<\/em>, October 17, 2014.<\/p>\nR.I. handbook shows blatant bias<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Providence Journal<\/em>, September 25, 2014.<\/p>\nR.I.\u2019s poor preparation for convention<\/a>,\u00a0Providence Journal<\/em>, August 2, 2014.<\/p>\n\u2018Dark money\u2019 drives R.I. constitutional convention votes<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Providence Journal<\/em>, June 13, 2014.<\/span><\/p>\nR.I. needs a constitutional convention<\/a>, Providence Journal<\/em>, March 21, 2014.<\/p>\nCompilation of Op-eds<\/strong><\/p>\nSnider, J.H., The U.S. State Con-Con Papers<\/a>, Social Science Research Network, June 24, 2024.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President (inscribed on Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC)” admin_label=”Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#7ebec5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.\n[\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.16″ height=”105px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/11-09-21-SafraCenterPhoto-HighResolution.jpeg.jpg” alt=”J.H. Snider” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Image of J.H. Snider” _builder_version=”4.16″ animation=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Patrick T. Conley, author of Rhode Island’s periodic constitutional convention referendum” company_name=”Source: %22Political paranoia and constitutional constipation,%22 Warwick Beacon, August 22, 2024″ url=”https:\/\/www.warwickonline.com\/stories\/political-paranoia-and-constitutional-constipation,261479?” url_new_window=”on” admin_label=”Testimonial” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_color=”#7ebec5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.warwickonline.com\/stories\/political-paranoia-and-constitutional-constipation,261479?” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n[T]his commentary is written primarily to address the fear of convention opponents.\u00a0 One negative argument suggests that a constitutional convention puts civil rights \u201cat risk.\u201d\u00a0 History emphatically proves the opposite.\u00a0 Our Article I \u2013 \u201cDeclaration of Certain Constitutional Rights and Principles\u201d \u2013 by its placement demonstrates the primary concern of our constitutional drafters for individual liberty.\u00a0 The 1973 convention (in which I served as secretary and delegate) expanded voting rights.\u00a0 The 1986 convention (in which I served as general counsel to the president) ensured the people\u2019s rights to our shoreline (Section 17); protected private property rights in cases of eminent domain (Section 16); banned any law abridging the freedom of speech (Section 21); gave rights to victims of crime (Section 23); and added a concluding provision (Section 24) to embrace the concept that the Rhode Island Constitution is to be interpreted as expanding and not limiting individual rights, even though similar rights in the U.S. Constitution may be more narrowly defined.\u00a0 So much for conventions as threats to civil rights!<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f3ffc1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mission In recent decades, the quality of public deliberation about periodic\u00a0constitutional convention referendums in Rhode Island and elsewhere has been low. \u00a0In particular, there has been a lack of historical, comparative, and normative\u00a0information to help people understand this important democratic institution. RhodeIslandConCon.info and its accompanying website, The State Constitutional Convention Clearinghouse, seek to rectify […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1737,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1775","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1775"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2832,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1775\/revisions\/2832"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/rhodeisland.concon.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2024-05-12-ProvidenceJournal-SniderAndSassOped-Print-Version-LargeFormat.png\"){kind=link}