House Joint Resolution 12 - Introduced HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 12 BY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY (SUCCESSOR TO HJR 11) HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION A Joint Resolution calling for an Article V convention in order 1 to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United 2 States that impose fiscal restraints, and limit the power 3 and jurisdiction of the federal government, and requesting 4 Congress to similarly propose such amendments. 5 WHEREAS, the founders of the Constitution of the United 6 States empowered state legislators to be guardians of liberty 7 against future abuses of power by the federal government; and 8 WHEREAS, the federal government has created a crushing 9 national debt through improper and imprudent spending; and 10 WHEREAS, the federal government has invaded the legitimate 11 roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal 12 mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent; and 13 WHEREAS, the federal government has ceased to live under 14 a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United 15 States; and 16 WHEREAS, it is the solemn duty of the states to protect 17 the liberty of our people, particularly for the generations 18 to come, by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the 19 United States through a convention of the states under Article 20 V of the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of 21 restraining these and related abuses of power; NOW THEREFORE, 22 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 23 TLSB 2105HV (1) 87 aw/rj

H.J.R. 12 That the Congress of the United States is hereby petitioned 1 to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United 2 States, for submission to the states for ratification, to 3 impose fiscal restraints on the federal government and limit 4 the federal government’s power and jurisdiction; and 5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, pursuant to Article V of the 6 Constitution of the United States, the General Assembly, as the 7 legislature of the state of Iowa, joins in the applications of 8 the states of Georgia (SR 736, 2014), Florida (SM 476, 2014), 9 Alaska (HJR 22, 2014), Alabama (HJR 112, 2015), Tennessee 10 (SJR 67, 2016), Indiana (SJR 14, 2016), Oklahoma (SJR 4, 11 2016), and Louisiana (SCR 52, 2016), for a convention for the 12 specific and exclusive purpose of proposing amendments to the 13 Constitution of the United States limited to the purposes 14 stated therein, provided, however, that the delegates from 15 Iowa to said convention are expressly limited to consideration 16 and support of amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the 17 federal government, and amendments that limit the power and 18 jurisdiction of the federal government, and no amendments on 19 any other topic; and 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That it is the express intention of 21 the General Assembly that this application shall be aggregated 22 with the prior and subsequent applications of other states 23 limited to the purposes identified in this application; and 24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this application constitutes 25 a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the 26 Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at 27 least two-thirds of the several states have made applications 28 for a similar convention under Article V, or the General 29 Assembly resolves to withdraw this application; and 30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State shall 31 transmit certified copies of this resolution to the President 32 and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and 33 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the 34 presiding officer of each house of the legislature of each of 35 -1- LSB 2105HV (1) 87 aw/rj 1/ 2

H.J.R. 12 the several states, and to each member of Iowa’s congressional 1 delegation. 2 EXPLANATION 3 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 4 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 5 This joint resolution constitutes an application requesting 6 the United States Congress to call a constitutional convention 7 in order to propose amendments to the Constitution of the 8 United States to impose fiscal restraints on the federal 9 government and limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal 10 government. The resolution stipulates that Iowa’s delegates 11 to such a convention are expressly limited to consideration 12 and support of amendments on those topics. The resolution 13 constitutes a continuing application to call a constitutional 14 convention and states the intention of the General Assembly 15 that the application be aggregated with the prior and 16 subsequent applications of other states limited to the purposes 17 identified in the resolution. 18 The resolution also petitions the Congress of the United 19 States to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the 20 United States to impose fiscal restraints on the federal 21 government and limit the federal government’s power and 22 jurisdiction. 23 The resolution requires the Secretary of State to transmit 24 certified copies of this resolution to the President and 25 Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk 26 of the United States House of Representatives, the presiding 27 officer of each house of the legislature of each state, and to 28 the members of Iowa’s congressional delegation. 29 -2- LSB 2105HV (1) 87 aw/rj 2/ 2