House Bill 405 proposes a substantial amendment to the Montana Constitution in an attempt to create something known as a “citizen’s grand jury.” Apparently, the bill is meant to fulfill the objective of a “Platform Principle” adopted by the Montana Republican Party which states that: “We…support reforming the Grand Jury laws to better root out corruption and support limiting the ability of the Montana Supreme Court to abuse its power to protect themselves.”

What is your favorite constitutional provision? Many would answer the First Amendment. With its speech protections, it is preservative of all other freedoms. Others, on the same rationale, might prefer the right to vote.

2022 was the year of celebrating the fiftieth birthday of Montana’s Constitution — its visionary provisions and the unique bipartisan approach adopted by the citizen delegates who wrote it. Our perspective is from a combined total of over 30 years of legislative experience under both our current Constitution, as well as the one that preceded it.