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


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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

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

Download: Texas-2017-HJR78-Introduced.html
  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.
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