The Committee on Judiciary proposed the following amendment (JUD0133.004):

Amend the joint resolution, as and if amended, by striking all after the title and inserting therein the following:

/ 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 proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a Convention of the States under Article V for the purpose of restraining these and related abuses of power. Now therefore,

Be it therefore resolved by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION1. The General Assembly of South Carolina, by this joint resolution, 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.

SECTION2. The Clerks of the South Carolina House of Representatives and the South Carolina Senate shall transmit copies of this resolution to the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, and the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several states, attesting to the enactment of this joint resolution by the South Carolina General Assembly and requesting cooperation.

SECTION3. This joint resolution 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 on the same subject.

SECTION4. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor. /