HJR 11 (LSB 1131HV (1) 91)

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 11

BY  COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

(SUCCESSOR TO HJR 6)

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

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, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the number of terms that a person may serve in Congress or as a federal official.

   WHEREAS, the founders of the Constitution of the United States empowered state legislators to be guardians of liberty against future abuses of power by the federal government; and
   WHEREAS, the federal government has created a crushing national debt through improper and imprudent spending; and
   WHEREAS, the federal government has invaded the legitimate roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent; and
   WHEREAS, the federal government has ceased to function under a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United States; and
   WHEREAS, it is the solemn duty of the states to protect the liberty of our people, particularly for the generations to come, by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a convention of the states under Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of restraining these and related abuses of power; NOW THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   That the General Assembly, as the legislature of the state of Iowa, hereby applies to the Congress of the United States under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States for a convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress, and no amendments on any other topic; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the several states have made applications for a similar convention under Article V, or the General Assembly resolves to withdraw this application; and
   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State shall transmit certified copies of this resolution to the President and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, and to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature of each of the several states.

EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This joint resolution constitutes an application requesting the United States Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for federal officials and for members of Congress. The resolution constitutes a continuing application to call a convention for proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
   The resolution requires the Secretary of State to transmit certified copies of this resolution to the President and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, and to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature of each state.