The birth of a new Montana constitution.

Many of us who love Montana take for granted its beauty and wide-open spaces, our right to privacy, government transparency and the culture of our state’s Native American tribes. But the Montana we appreciate today might not be this way if not for the hard work of many people who raised awareness of environmental and social factors and worked hard to ratify the Montana Constitution on June 6th 1972.

Social changes brought about by the Women’s Movement and Earth Day education that began in 1970 gave people the motivation to consider the rights of the people of Montana when revising its constitution. However, it was not an easy task. Those who wanted changes to the constitution were up against big money and big business that fought against the proposed changes. The people who wanted the constitution to protect the environment and the rights of Montana citizens worked diligently to raise awareness of Montana voters. Their hard work paid off when the constitution was ratified by a close margin of 116,415 votes to 113,883!

And now it is our turn. We cannot take for granted our clean environment, beautiful landscapes and the protection of Montana citizens’ rights. In 2030 our constitution is up for review. Montanans will be given the opportunity to vote on whether a Constitutional Convention should be held to write a new constitutional document. And there are entities with big money just waiting to change the articles of the constitution in their favor. These changes would have negative consequences for the Montana we know and love.

The existing Montana Constitution, enacted in 1972, is widely considered progressive in content. The challenge for all Montanans is to work hard, as the people did in 1972, to make people understand the current Montana Constitution is an evolving document. Over the years the Montana Constitution has been amended 38 times since its creation in 1972. It is vital for us as citizens of Montana to understand the consequence our vote in 2030 will have on our way of life if Montanans. Political groups from outside of Montana are a driving force for Montana to hold a new constitutional convention. Voting NO will protect the current Montana Constitution. We must retain this much loved and revered document.