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House Joint Resolution 2001 - IntroducedA Bill ForA Joint Resolution 1rescinding all previous requests by the
2general assembly of the state of Iowa for the United States
3Congress to call a federal constitutional convention
4pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution.
5WHEREAS, the constitutional convention of 1787 was initially
6convened to make revisions to the Articles of Confederation
7and that convention decided instead to discard the Articles
8of Confederation entirely and create a new system of
9government;and
10WHEREAS, the United States Constitution has served as the
11cornerstone of American liberty since its creation in 1787 and
12was the first written national constitution to set forth a
13system of separation of powers and to ensure that the rights of
14minority groups could not be easily trampled upon by the will
15of the majority;and
16WHEREAS, the United States Constitution has proven to be
17resilient and a subsequent constitutional convention has not
18been held since 1787;and
19WHEREAS, Article V of the United States Constitution
20requires the Congress of the United States to convene a
21constitutional convention upon the application of two-thirds of
22the several states;and
23WHEREAS, the general assembly of the state of Iowa has, at
24various times, previously made applications to the Congress of
25the United States of America to call a convention to propose
26amendments concerning specific subjects to the United States
27Constitution, pursuant to Article V;and
28WHEREAS, over the course of time, the will of the people of
29the state of Iowa may have changed relating to these previous
30resolutions;and
31WHEREAS, the general assembly of the State of Iowa is aware
32that other state legislatures have made applications requesting
33that Congress call a constitutional convention;and
34WHEREAS, the general assembly of the state of Iowa no
35longer supports its previous resolutions which request that
36Congress call a constitutional convention, all of which
37were adopted many decades ago; and does not wish for these
38resolutions to be included with applications made by other
39state legislatures;NOW THEREFORE,
40BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1That the general assembly of the state of Iowa rescinds
2all prior applications to the Congress of the United States
3of America to call a convention pursuant to Article V of the
4United States Constitution, including but not limited to all of
5the following:
61. Joint resolution no.3 of the 30th general assembly
7(1904).
82. Senate joint resolution no.2 of the 32nd general assembly
9(1907).
103. House joint resolution no.9 of the 33rd general assembly
11(1909).
124. House concurrent resolution no.15 of the 49th general
13assembly (1941).
145. House concurrent resolution no.26 of the 50th general
15assembly (1943).
166. Senate concurrent resolution no.11 of the 54th general
17assembly (1951).
187. Senate concurrent resolution no.13 of the 63rd general
19assembly (1969).
208. House joint resolution no.1 of the 64th general assembly,
211971 Acts, chapter 289.
229. Senate joint resolution no.1 of the 68th general
23assembly, 1979 Acts, chapter 172; and
24BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the general assembly of the
25State of Iowa urges each state legislature which has requested
26Congress to call a constitutional convention to withdraw such
27applications; and
28BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
29sent to the President and the Secretary of the United States
30Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House
31of Representatives, and members of the Iowa congressional
32delegation.
33EXPLANATION
34The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
35the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
-1- 1This joint resolution rescinds all prior applications by the
2Iowa general assembly to the Congress of the United States to
3call a constitutional convention pursuant to Article V of the
4United States Constitution.
-2-ec/jh
2general assembly of the state of Iowa for the United States
3Congress to call a federal constitutional convention
4pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution.
5WHEREAS, the constitutional convention of 1787 was initially
6convened to make revisions to the Articles of Confederation
7and that convention decided instead to discard the Articles
8of Confederation entirely and create a new system of
9government;and
10WHEREAS, the United States Constitution has served as the
11cornerstone of American liberty since its creation in 1787 and
12was the first written national constitution to set forth a
13system of separation of powers and to ensure that the rights of
14minority groups could not be easily trampled upon by the will
15of the majority;and
16WHEREAS, the United States Constitution has proven to be
17resilient and a subsequent constitutional convention has not
18been held since 1787;and
19WHEREAS, Article V of the United States Constitution
20requires the Congress of the United States to convene a
21constitutional convention upon the application of two-thirds of
22the several states;and
23WHEREAS, the general assembly of the state of Iowa has, at
24various times, previously made applications to the Congress of
25the United States of America to call a convention to propose
26amendments concerning specific subjects to the United States
27Constitution, pursuant to Article V;and
28WHEREAS, over the course of time, the will of the people of
29the state of Iowa may have changed relating to these previous
30resolutions;and
31WHEREAS, the general assembly of the State of Iowa is aware
32that other state legislatures have made applications requesting
33that Congress call a constitutional convention;and
34WHEREAS, the general assembly of the state of Iowa no
35longer supports its previous resolutions which request that
36Congress call a constitutional convention, all of which
37were adopted many decades ago; and does not wish for these
38resolutions to be included with applications made by other
39state legislatures;NOW THEREFORE,
40BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1That the general assembly of the state of Iowa rescinds
2all prior applications to the Congress of the United States
3of America to call a convention pursuant to Article V of the
4United States Constitution, including but not limited to all of
5the following:
61. Joint resolution no.3 of the 30th general assembly
7(1904).
82. Senate joint resolution no.2 of the 32nd general assembly
9(1907).
103. House joint resolution no.9 of the 33rd general assembly
11(1909).
124. House concurrent resolution no.15 of the 49th general
13assembly (1941).
145. House concurrent resolution no.26 of the 50th general
15assembly (1943).
166. Senate concurrent resolution no.11 of the 54th general
17assembly (1951).
187. Senate concurrent resolution no.13 of the 63rd general
19assembly (1969).
208. House joint resolution no.1 of the 64th general assembly,
211971 Acts, chapter 289.
229. Senate joint resolution no.1 of the 68th general
23assembly, 1979 Acts, chapter 172; and
24BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the general assembly of the
25State of Iowa urges each state legislature which has requested
26Congress to call a constitutional convention to withdraw such
27applications; and
28BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
29sent to the President and the Secretary of the United States
30Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House
31of Representatives, and members of the Iowa congressional
32delegation.
33EXPLANATION
34The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
35the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
-1- 1This joint resolution rescinds all prior applications by the
2Iowa general assembly to the Congress of the United States to
3call a constitutional convention pursuant to Article V of the
4United States Constitution.
-2-ec/jh