REFERENCE TITLE: application; Article V convention

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature First Regular Session 2017

HCR 2010

Introduced by Representatives Townsend: Allen J, Barton, Boyer, Campbell, Clodfelter, Cobb, Coleman, Cook, Finchem, Grantham, John, Lawrence, Leach, Livingston, Mesnard, Mosley, Nutt, Payne, Rivero, Shooter, Stringer, Thorpe, Ugenti-Rita, Weninger, Senators Borrelli, Fann, Lesko, Montenegro

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

applying to the congress of the united states to call a convention for proposing amendments to the constitution of the united states.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, the founders of the Constitution of the United States empowered state legislators to be guardians of liberty against future abuses of power by the federal government; and

Whereas, the federal government has created a crushing national debt through improper and imprudent spending; and

Whereas, the federal government has invaded the legitimate role of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent; and

Whereas, the federal government has ceased to live under a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United States; and

Whereas, it is the solemn duty of the states to protect the liberty of our people, particularly for the generations to come, and to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a convention of the states under Article V to place clear restraints on these and related abuses of power.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

1.  That, pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States, the Legislature of the State of Arizona formally applies to the Congress of the United States to call a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for federal officials and for members of Congress.

2.  That this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until at least two-thirds of the legislatures of the several states have made application on the same subjects.

3.  That this application is revoked, withdrawn, nullified and superseded, retroactive to the date of enactment, if the application is used for the purpose of calling a convention or is used in support of conducting a convention to amend the Constitution of the United States for any purpose other than to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government or limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress.

4.  That the Legislature of the State of Arizona may provide further instructions to its delegates and may recall its delegates at any time for a breach of duty or a violation of the instructions provided.  The Arizona delegates are instructed to not support term limits for members of Congress that would limit their number of years in any given office to fewer than twelve years.

5.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit a copy of this Resolution to the President and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona and the presiding officers of each house of the several state legislatures, requesting their cooperation.