119-HCONRES15

Resolution is currently in: House
Passed in
House Senate

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 24, 2025

Mr. Arrington submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

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

That

(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).

A copy of this concurrent resolution shall be transmitted to the Administrator of General Services for submission to the legislatures of the several States.