Bill Text: IA HJR12 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A joint resolution calling for an Article V convention in order to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints, and limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and requesting Congress to similarly propose such amendments. (Formerly HJR 11.)
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-22 - Placed on calendar under unfinished business. S.J. 753. [HJR12 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2017-HJR12-Introduced.html
House Joint Resolution 12 - Introduced HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (SUCCESSOR TO HJR 11) HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1 A Joint Resolution calling for an Article V convention in order 2 to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United 3 States that impose fiscal restraints, and limit the power 4 and jurisdiction of the federal government, and requesting 5 Congress to similarly propose such amendments. 6 WHEREAS, the founders of the Constitution of the United 7 States empowered state legislators to be guardians of liberty 8 against future abuses of power by the federal government; and 9 WHEREAS, the federal government has created a crushing 10 national debt through improper and imprudent spending; and 11 WHEREAS, the federal government has invaded the legitimate 12 roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal 13 mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent; and 14 WHEREAS, the federal government has ceased to live under 15 a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United 16 States; and 17 WHEREAS, it is the solemn duty of the states to protect 18 the liberty of our people, particularly for the generations 19 to come, by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the 20 United States through a convention of the states under Article 21 V of the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of 22 restraining these and related abuses of power; NOW THEREFORE, 23 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 2105HV (1) 87 aw/rj PAG LIN 1 1 That the Congress of the United States is hereby petitioned 1 2 to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United 1 3 States, for submission to the states for ratification, to 1 4 impose fiscal restraints on the federal government and limit 1 5 the federal government's power and jurisdiction; and 1 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, pursuant to Article V of the 1 7 Constitution of the United States, the General Assembly, as the 1 8 legislature of the state of Iowa, joins in the applications of 1 9 the states of Georgia (SR 736, 2014), Florida (SM 476, 2014), 1 10 Alaska (HJR 22, 2014), Alabama (HJR 112, 2015), Tennessee 1 11 (SJR 67, 2016), Indiana (SJR 14, 2016), Oklahoma (SJR 4, 1 12 2016), and Louisiana (SCR 52, 2016), for a convention for the 1 13 specific and exclusive purpose of proposing amendments to the 1 14 Constitution of the United States limited to the purposes 1 15 stated therein, provided, however, that the delegates from 1 16 Iowa to said convention are expressly limited to consideration 1 17 and support of amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the 1 18 federal government, and amendments that limit the power and 1 19 jurisdiction of the federal government, and no amendments on 1 20 any other topic; and 1 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That it is the express intention of 1 22 the General Assembly that this application shall be aggregated 1 23 with the prior and subsequent applications of other states 1 24 limited to the purposes identified in this application; and 1 25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this application constitutes 1 26 a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the 1 27 Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at 1 28 least two=thirds of the several states have made applications 1 29 for a similar convention under Article V, or the General 1 30 Assembly resolves to withdraw this application; and 1 31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State shall 1 32 transmit certified copies of this resolution to the President 1 33 and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and 1 34 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the 1 35 presiding officer of each house of the legislature of each of 2 1 the several states, and to each member of Iowa's congressional 2 2 delegation. 2 3 EXPLANATION 2 4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 5 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 6 This joint resolution constitutes an application requesting 2 7 the United States Congress to call a constitutional convention 2 8 in order to propose amendments to the Constitution of the 2 9 United States to impose fiscal restraints on the federal 2 10 government and limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal 2 11 government. The resolution stipulates that Iowa's delegates 2 12 to such a convention are expressly limited to consideration 2 13 and support of amendments on those topics. The resolution 2 14 constitutes a continuing application to call a constitutional 2 15 convention and states the intention of the General Assembly 2 16 that the application be aggregated with the prior and 2 17 subsequent applications of other states limited to the purposes 2 18 identified in the resolution. 2 19 The resolution also petitions the Congress of the United 2 20 States to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the 2 21 United States to impose fiscal restraints on the federal 2 22 government and limit the federal government's power and 2 23 jurisdiction. 2 24 The resolution requires the Secretary of State to transmit 2 25 certified copies of this resolution to the President and 2 26 Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk 2 27 of the United States House of Representatives, the presiding 2 28 officer of each house of the legislature of each state, and to 2 29 the members of Iowa's congressional delegation. LSB 2105HV (1) 87 aw/rj
