Bill Text: TX HJR78 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Rescinding the 1901 and 1911 applications to the United States Congress to call a national convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for the direct election of U.S. Senators.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-20 - Referred to State & Federal Power & Responsibility, Select [HJR78 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HJR78-Introduced.html

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85R7911 E
By: Klick H.J.R. No. 78

A JOINT RESOLUTION
rescinding the 1901 and 1911 applications to the United States
Congress to call a national convention under Article V of the United
States Constitution for the direct election of U.S. Senators.
WHEREAS, In the year 1901, the 27th Texas Legislature adopted
House Concurrent Resolution No. 22, applying to the United States
Congress, pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution,
to call a convention to propose an amendment to that Constitution
which would provide that members of the United States Senate be
elected directly by the voters of each state rather than be
appointed by the legislatures thereof; and
WHEREAS, In the year 1911, the 32nd Texas Legislature adopted
House Concurrent Resolution No. 11, doing virtually the same thing;
and
WHEREAS, In the year 1912, the 62nd United States Congress
did approve House Joint Resolution No. 39, proposing to the
nation's state legislatures for ratification what we know today as
the Federal Constitution's Amendment XVII which--since its
ratification more than a century ago in 1913--has indeed provided
for election of United States Senators directly by the people; and
WHEREAS, The 33rd Texas Legislature, via adoption of its
House Joint Resolution No. 5, in 1913, did indeed ratify Amendment
XVII; and
WHEREAS, Since the purpose for which the 27th and 32nd Texas
Legislatures' aforementioned requests have been fulfilled by
alternate means--without an Article V Convention ever actually
having been triggered on the specific topic of directly electing
United States Senators--there remains no need to retain these
still-lingering Texas requests that Congress call such a convention
on that particular subject; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, By the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas,
Regular Session, 2017, that House Concurrent Resolution No. 22 of
the 27th Legislature--as well as House Concurrent Resolution No. 11
of the 32nd Legislature--be hereby rescinded, repealed, voided,
canceled and nullified; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That, in a manner which would furnish confirmation
of delivery and tracking while en route, the Texas Secretary of
State shall transmit properly certified copies of this joint
resolution of rescission, pursuant to the Standing Rules of the
United States Senate (namely, Rule VII, paragraphs 4, 5, and 6), to
the Vice-President of the United States (in his capacity as
presiding officer of the United States Senate and addressed to him
in Suite S-212 of the United States Capitol Building); to the
Secretary and Parliamentarian of the United States Senate; and to
both United States Senators representing Texas; accompanied by a
cover letter to each addressee drawing attention to the fact that it
is the 85th Texas Legislature's courteous, yet firm, request that
the full and complete verbatim text of this joint resolution be duly
published in the United States Senate's portion of the
Congressional Record as an official memorial to the United States
Senate, and that this joint resolution be referred to whichever
committee or committees of the United States Senate that would have
appropriate jurisdiction in this matter; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That, in a manner which would furnish confirmation
of delivery and tracking while en route, the Texas Secretary of
State shall likewise transmit properly certified copies of this
joint resolution of rescission, pursuant to the Rules of the United
States House of Representatives (namely, Rule XII, clauses 3 and
7), to the Speaker, Clerk and Parliamentarian of the United States
House of Representatives; and to all members of the United States
House of Representatives who represent districts in Texas; likewise
accompanied by a cover letter to each addressee drawing attention
to the fact that it is the 85th Legislature's courteous, yet firm,
request that the substance of this joint resolution be accurately
summarized in the United States House of Representatives' portion
of the Congressional Record as an official memorial to the United
States House of Representatives, and that this joint resolution be
referred to whichever committee or committees of the United States
House of Representatives that would have appropriate jurisdiction
in this matter.