[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 15 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 15
Calling an Article V Convention for proposing a Fiscal Responsibility
Amendment to the United States Constitution and stipulating
ratification by a vote of We the People, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 24, 2025
Mr. Arrington submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Calling an Article V Convention for proposing a Fiscal Responsibility
Amendment to the United States Constitution and stipulating
ratification by a vote of We the People, and for other purposes.
Whereas Article V of the Constitution of the United States states that ``The
Congress . . . on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of
the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments''
to the Constitution;
Whereas congressional and State records of plenary applications for amendments
on any subject and applications for the single subject of Inflation-
fighting Fiscal Responsibility Amendments compiled by the Article V
Library counts Nevada's ``continuing'' application, reported February 8,
1979, in the Congressional Record, as the 34th thus achieving the ``two
thirds'' congressional mandate to call the Convention for proposing
amendments; congressional records reported 39 applications by the end of
1979, 40 in 1983, and 42 total applications over time;
Whereas Alexander Hamilton in Federalist 85 stated that ``The Congress `shall
call a Convention'. Nothing in this particular is left to the discretion
of that body'';
Whereas, beginning in 1979, when Congress appears to have failed in its
constitutional duty to count applications and call a ``Convention for
proposing Amendments'', the Nation's debt has increased to more than $36
trillion from $860 billion, while the value of the dollar has declined
by over 80 percent;
Whereas the Constitution was ratified by Convention delegates ``chosen in each
State by the People thereof'', and the 21st Amendment, repealing
Prohibition, was ratified in 1933 by a vote of the people for Yes-
pledged delegates in 38 of 39 State Conventions; and
Whereas the Supreme Court's unanimous opinion in Chiafalo v. Washington stated:
``electors . . . have no ground for reversing the vote of millions of
its citizens. That direction accords with the Constitution--as well as
with the trust of the Nation that here, We the People rule.'': Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That
SECTION 1. CALL FOR ARTICLE V CONVENTION OF STATES.
(a) In General.--
(1) Call for convention; timing.--As provided in Article V
of the Constitution of the United States, and except as
provided in paragraph (2), Congress hereby calls a Convention
for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United
States for a date and place to be determined on calling the
Convention.
(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) does not apply if, prior to
the expiration of the 60-day period which begins on the date of
the adoption of this concurrent resolution--
(A) the House Clerk provides a written report
stating there have never been unrescinded and
``continuing'' applications for a Convention to propose
amendments from at least two-thirds (34) of the States
on any national issues (plenary) plus the single issue
of fiscal responsibility; and
(B) the House Clerk includes in the report detailed
findings for each State.
(b) Ratification of Amendments by States.--Each proposed amendment
at the Convention for proposing amendments called under this section
shall be ratified by a vote of We the People in three-quarters (38) of
the States via State Convention delegates who shall ``have no ground
for reversing the vote of millions of its citizens'' (Chiafalo v.
Washington).
SEC. 2. TRANSMISSION TO ADMINISTRATOR OF GENERAL SERVICES.
A copy of this concurrent resolution shall be transmitted to the
Administrator of General Services for submission to the legislatures of
the several States.
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