Federal Relations Working Group Resolution on Article V of the U.S. Constitution Exposed

The Federal Relations Working Group Resolution on Article V of the U.S Constitution was adopted by ALEC's International Relations Task Force and Federal Relations Working Group on December 4, 2009, approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on January 8, 2010. ALEC has attempted to distance itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.

ALEC Resolution Text

Whereas the growth of federal government power at the expense of states has accelerated in recent years; and

Whereas limiting the continued unchecked growth of federal power may require Constitutional reform; and

Whereas Congress is unlikely, without outside encouragement to propose any Constitutional Amendment that limits its own power; and

Whereas two-thirds of the states should have the same power to propose individual amendments to the Constitution for ratification as does two-thirds of Congress; and

Whereas when state legislators understand that legal and political procedures could limit an Article V Convention to the consideration of just one amendment, the balance of power between the federal and state governments would be fundamentally altered;

Therefore be it resolved that the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) support and facilitate the education of state legislators about how an Article V Convention called by state legislatures could be reliably limited to an up or down vote on the text of a single amendment to the U.S. Constitution, including the possibility of an amendment that would give two-thirds of the states the explicit right to propose amendments without having to obtain the consent of Congress;

Therefore be it further resolved that ALEC facilitate times for legislators interested in working on this issue in more detail to meet during future ALEC meetings and events.

Passed by the International Relations Task Force and Federal Relations Working Group on December 4, 2009.

Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on January 8, 2010.