States' Initiative Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Exposed

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The States' Initiative Amendment to the Constitution of the United States does not include any adoption or approval information. 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itself from this piece of legislation after the launch of ALECexposed.org in 2011, but it has done nothing to get it repealed in the states where it previously pushed for it to be made into law.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 Bill Text

Summary

A resolution for the purpose of petitioning the Congress of the United States to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States for submission to the states to provide the states a method of offering amendments to the Constitution of the United States.


Model Resolution

WHEREAS, the ratification of the Constitution of the United States by the states created a balance of power between the federal government and the states; and

WHEREAS, the federal government was granted certain limited powers under the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the United States requires, under the 10th Amendment that: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people;" and

WHEREAS, by the combined actions of the Congress, the Executive and the Judiciary, today, power is concentrated in the federal government; and

WHEREAS, the original checks and balances created by the founders have been eroded and the national government has consolidated power and authority; and

WHEREAS, the federal government is more distant from the people than state governments; and

WHEREAS, to achieve government of the people, by the people and for the people, government must become closer to the people; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for an effective mechanism by which the states can offer amendments to the Constitution of the United States;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF {INSERT STATE}, A MAJORITY OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE TWO HOUSES CONCURRING SEPARATELY HEREIN, that the Congress of the United States is hereby petitioned to propose the States' Initiative Resolution as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States for ratification by state legislatures. This resolution shall be submitted to the states for ratification, providing for the states a method through which they may amend the Constitution of the United States.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that to achieve the purpose expressed above, the States' Initiative Amendment shall provide that: Whenever three-fourths of the legislatures of the states deem it necessary, they shall propose amendments to this Constitution. These proposed amendments are valid for all intents and purposes two years after they are submitted to Congress. The said amendments will be invalid if both houses of Congress, by two-thirds vote, disapprove them within two years after their submission.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of {insert state} transmit copies of this Concurrent Resolution to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of each state's legislature of the United States of America, and the {insert state} Congressional Delegation.