H 3341 Concurrent Resolution, By R.C. Fulmer, H.M. Hallman and Seithel
 A Concurrent Resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to
 propose an amendment to Article V of the United States Constitution that will
 enable three-fourths of the states to amend the Constitution subject to
 Congressional veto.

   01/19/95  House  Introduced HJ-25
   01/19/95  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-26
   01/31/95  House  Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
                     Memorial Resolutions HJ-2
   02/02/95  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, February 7, 1995 HJ-49
   02/07/95  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, February 8,
                     1995 HJ-25
   02/08/95  House  Adopted, sent to Senate HJ-51
   02/09/95  Senate Introduced SJ-10
   02/09/95  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-10

January 31, 1995

H. 3341

S. Printed 1/31/95--H.

Read the first time January 19, 1995.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 3341), memorializing the Congress of the United States to propose an amendment to Article V of the United States Constitution, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION THAT WILL ENABLE THREE-FOURTHS OF THE STATES TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION SUBJECT TO CONGRESSIONAL VETO.

Whereas, all thirty-three amendments proposed to the United States Constitution since 1788 have been initiated by Congress; and

Whereas, more than four hundred petitions from the several states requesting a constitutional convention to propose amendments have been filed with Congress but have never resulted in the calling of a convention or adoption of an amendment; and

Whereas, there should be a proper balance of national and state power in a federal system; the present mechanism for the states to initiate a constitutional convention has proved to be unworkable; and the envisioned and desirable equipoise between national and state powers requires a means for the several states to be able to propose amendments to the Constitution; and

Whereas, an Intergovernmental Partnership Task Force has proposed in its 1989 report to the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee of The Council of State Governments an amendment to Article V of the United States Constitution to establish a thoughtful balancing of national and state interests in the constitutional amendment process; and

Whereas, the gist of the task force proposal is to enable the legislatures of three-fourths of the states to propose amendments to the Constitution subject to the veto of the Congress by a two-thirds vote of both houses within two years of the states' submission of the amendments; and

Whereas, this proposal embodies a prudent method for constitutional amendments to be initiated by a substantial majority of the several states and yet subject to veto by the Congress. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the General Assembly of South Carolina requests the Congress of the United States to propose an amendment to Article V of the Constitution of the United States which in essence provides that:

Whenever three-fourths of the legislatures of the several states deem it necessary, they shall propose amendments to this Constitution. After two years from the date of receipt by the clerk of the House of Representatives of a certified copy of the proposed amendments from the state which represents three-fourths or more of the several states, the proposed amendments shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, unless disapproved by two-thirds of both Houses of Congress within that two-year period. Each state shall have the power to rescind its action to propose the amendments only until the beginning of that two-year period.

Be it further resolved that the General Assembly of South Carolina requests the legislatures of the several states to apply to Congress for the proposal of this amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be sent to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, to each of the senators and representatives in Congress from South Carolina, and to the legislatures of each of the several states, attesting to the adoption of this resolution.