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2015 SESSION

15100168D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 497
Offered January 14, 2015
Prefiled August 28, 2014
Applying to the Congress of the United States to call an amendment convention pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution 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.
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Patrons-- Lingamfelter, Anderson, Morris, Ware, Berg, Bloxom, Cole, Cox, Edmunds, Fowler, Garrett, Greason, Head, Jones, LaRock, Massie, O'Bannon, Peace, Poindexter, Ramadan, Webert and Wilt
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Founders of the United States Constitution empowered state legislators to be guardians of liberty against excessive use of power by the federal government; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has created a mounting national debt exceeding $17 trillion through improper and imprudent spending; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has usurped the legitimate roles of the states through unfunded federal mandates; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has ceased to operate under a proper interpretation of the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; 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 United States Constitution through a convention of the states under Article V to place clear restraints on these and related excessive uses of power; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia hereby make application to the Congress of the United States to call an amendment convention of the states pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution 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

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the other states be encouraged to make similar applications for an amendment convention pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That this application shall constitute a continuing application for such amendment convention pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution until the legislatures of two-thirds of the states have made applications on the same subject and such convention has been called by the Congress of the United States; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President and the Clerk of the United States Senate, the members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation, and the legislatures of each of the several states, attesting the adoption of this resolution by the General Assembly of Virginia.