t

Opinion: We do not need to convene a constitutional convention

Ways to amend the constitution already exist.

  • By Laraine Derr
  • Monday, September 5, 2022 12:25pm
  • Opinion

Have you read the constitution of our great state of Alaska? I have been reading articles published in various places, opinions of well-respected citizens and letters to the editors regarding the need for a convention to review that document. There have been arguments both positive and negative to support the 10-year review process built in to the constitution. To assist me in making a determination, I decided to read it.

I have always had a copy of the U.S. Constitution on my living room cabinet, a document of about 4,500 words, and have read it several times. I realized I have never read the entire Alaska Constitution and therefore couldn’t argue with some of the points people were making — so I decided to do so.

I went to ltgov.alaska.gov where the entire document as it was written can be found. It is a very easy site to maneuver. Tap on any of the 15 articles, and then any of the paragraphs, and very succinct descriptions will appear. While more than twice as wordy as the U.S. Constitution, our constitution sets out our direction in a completely understandable fashion.

There have been changes over the years. Some have been made by ballot initiative and some have been made by legislative referral. It has been amended 28 times, from the first amendment in 1966 regarding the residence requirement to vote for president to the last one in 2004 regarding the distribution requirement for initiatives. Reading the Alaska State Constitution reinforced my belief that the authors of our constitution did a great job.

So, my conclusion in deciding how to vote on this question of “Shall there be a Constitutional Convention” will be no. Read our constitution, read the amendments and hopefully you will decide that ways to amend the constitution already exist and we do not need to convene another gathering.

• Laraine Derr is a former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, 15-year trustee of Alaska Mental Health Health Trust, received an honorary doctorate from University of Alaska Southeast and is the former owner and operator of Chez Alaska Cooking School. Columns, My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire. Have something to say? Here’s how to submit a My Turn or letter.

More in Opinion

Web
Have something to say?

Here’s how to add your voice to the conversation.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick display a chart detailing tariffs, at the White House in Washington, on Wednesday, April 2. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
My Turn: Piling on the One Big Beautiful Bill with unfair tariffs

The president’s assurances to restore Joe Six Pack are simply empty promises

The headquarters of NPR in Washington on April 20, 2020. (Ting Shen/The New York Times)
Opinion: Why Trump wants to kill public broadcasting

He expects the networks to misrepresent any truth and censor any opinion that makes him look bad.

Juneau Empire file photo
Letter to the Editor: Please celebrate responsibly

This past July 3 our neighborhood experienced an “earth shattering” and noisy display of extremely loud fireworks

Ken Post. (Courtesy photo)
My Turn: It’s time for a seasonal sales tax

There is no perfect seasonal sales tax, but it’s hard to pass up an opportunity to help CBJs fill its coffers

Children are photographed outside their now shuttered school, Pearl Creek Elementary, in August 2024 in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo provided by Morgan Dulian)
My Turn: Reform doesn’t start with cuts

Legislators must hold the line for Alaska’s students

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to Anchor Point residents during a community meeting held at the Virl "Pa" Haga VFW Post 10221 on Friday, May 30, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Big beautiful wins for Alaska in the Big Beautiful Bill

The legislation contains numerous provisions to unleash Alaska’s extraordinary resource economy.

Deena Bishop, commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development, discusses the status of school districts’ finances during a press conference with Gov. Mike Dunleavy at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Opinion: The fight to improve public education has just begun

We owe our children more than what the system is currently offering

The author and her husband carry an American flag during the Fourth of July parade, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Juneau, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kate Troll)
My Turn: Claiming the flag on the Fourth of July

Now, here cheering the flag were other immigrants with an uncertain future. What were they cheering about?

Most Read