Senate Concurrent Resolution 657

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE EXPRESSING THE INCUMBENT URGENCY AND NECESSITY CONCERNING AN APPLICATION TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS FOR AN ARTICLE V CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF THE STATES FOR PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION WHICH 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.

WHEREAS, the founders of the Constitution of the United States 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 of the United States Constitution to place clear restraints on these and related abuses of power; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative in nature as state-elected officials tasked with the responsibility of preserving the integral rights of citizens and inherent power of the state sovereignty affirmed under the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution, that the State of Mississippi expresses its compelling interest in the need for a Constitutional Convention of the states for the matter herein specified:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That the Mississippi Legislature, acting on behalf of the entire populace of the State of Mississippi, 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 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.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this application shall be deemed an application for a Convention to address each or all of the subjects herein stated. For the purposes of determining whether two-thirds (2/3) of the states have applied for a Convention addressing any of the subjects stated herein, this application is to be aggregated with the applications of any other state legislatures for the single subjects of balancing the federal budget, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, or limiting the terms of federal officials.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the several states have made applications on the same subject.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a certified copy of this application be transmitted by the Secretary of State, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to each member of the applicant's delegation to the United States Congress, and to the presiding officers of each house of the several state legislatures, requesting their cooperation in applying for the amendments Convention limited to the subject matter contemplated by this application.