HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 9

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Paul C. Bandy and Don L. Tripp

A JOINT RESOLUTION

APPLYING FOR A CONVENTION OF STATES UNDER ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

     WHEREAS, the Founders of our Constitution 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 live 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 preparing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a Convention of the States under Article V to place clear restraints on these and related abuses of power;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislature of New Mexico hereby applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention of the states limited to 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 for its officials and for Members of Congress; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico secretary of state is hereby directed to transmit copies of this application to the President and Secretary of the United States Senate and to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and copies to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives from this State; also to transmit copies to the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several States, requesting their cooperation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this application constitute 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 on the same subject.

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