U.S. Constitution; application to U.S. Congress to call convention to propose an amendment. (HJ542)

Introduced By

Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-Oak Hill)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate

Description

  United States Constitution; amendment.  Makes application to the United States Congress to call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing an amendment that permits the repeal of any federal law or regulation by vote of two-thirds of the state legislatures. The resolution states that application would be revoked and withdrawn if the convention acts to amend the Constitution for any purpose other than consideration of a federal appeal amendment. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/15/2010Committee
12/15/2010Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11102217D
12/15/2010Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
01/13/2011Assigned P & E sub: #1 Constitutional
01/21/2011Reported from Privileges and Elections (15-Y 7-N) (see vote tally)
01/25/2011Taken up
01/25/2011Pending question ordered
01/25/2011Engrossed by House
01/25/2011Agreed to by House (59-Y 34-N)
01/25/2011VOTE: ADOPTION (59-Y 34-N) (see vote tally)
01/26/2011Reading waived
01/26/2011Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections
02/22/2011Left in Privileges and Elections

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 15 clips in all, totaling 32 minutes.

Comments

James writes:

They dont have to call a constitution convention to do this. Opening up a Consitutional Convention can totally screw us over like how we got the Constitution in the first place. they werent going up there to PA to make a Constitution since they were supposed to work on the Articles of Confederation which were MUCH better for the states and people where-as the Constitution gives the federal much more power. Haveing a CON-CON is dangerous and unneeded to get the proposed result.

Bearing Drift, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

Bearing Drift supports efforts of the states have the opportunity to check federal overstretch through the "Repeal Amendment." With some constitutional power being taken away from states through the years, this is a good way to give some of that authority back. The Constitution is a compact among the states to grant authority to the federal government, not the other way around.

robert legge writes:

Don't these guys have enough to do without getting involved in constitutional conventions? They've been drinking too much imported tea.