Struck = only in HCR 7 ·
added = only in HR 125.
THISPRINTER'S RESOLUTIONNO. IS OFFERED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
HOUSE1009 CONCURRENTTHE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.Session of No.
7125 Reps.2025 INTRODUCED BY ROAE, BURNS, BARGER, BERNSTINE, KAUFFMAN, M.
Meerman,MACKENZIE, WortzSMITH, andSTAMBAUGH, GlanvilleSCHMITT, offeredWALSH, RYNCAVAGE, FINK, BONNER, CUTLER, ANDERSON AND STENDER, MARCH 17, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 17, 2025 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Petitioning the followingCongress concurrentof resolution:the United States to call a Convention for proposing amendments pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the Federal Government and limit the terms of office for its officialsl and for members of Congress.
AWHEREAS, concurrentThe resolutionFounders applyingof to the CongressConstitution of thePennsylvania Unitedempowered StatesState tolegislators call a convention to proposebe amendmentsguardians toof theliberty Unitedagainst Statesfuture Constitutionabuses toof impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power andby jurisdiction of the federalFederal government,Government; and limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress.
Whereas, The founders of our nation and draftersWHEREAS, ofThe theFederal UnitedGovernment Stateshas Constitutioncreated empowereda statecrushing legislatorsnational todebt bethrough guardiansimproper ofand libertyimprudent againstspending; future abuses of power by the federal government.
Articleand VWHEREAS, ofThe theFederal UnitedGovernment Stateshas Constitutioninvaded provides,the inlegitimate part,roles thatof Congress, “on the Applicationstates ofthrough the Legislaturesmanipulative ofprocess two thirds of theFederal severalmandates, States,most shallof callwhich aare Conventionunfunded for proposing LSB Research Services Division GCK R0255'26_HCR7_AAH_1 qz849e 1 Amendments” to thea Unitedgreat Statesextent; Constitution;
and Whereas,WHEREAS, The federalFederal governmentGovernment has ceased to liveoperate under a proper interpretation of the UnitedConstitution Statesof Constitution.the United States;
Improper and imprudentWHEREAS, spendingIt hasis createdthe asolemn crushingduty nationalof debt,the andstates to protect the federalliberty governmentof hasour invadedpeople, theespecially legitimatefor rolefuture generations, by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the statesUnited States through thea manipulativeConvention processunder Article V for the purpose of federalrestraining mandates,these includingand unfundedrelated mandates;abuses of power;
andtherefore Whereas,be Itit isRESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the solemnGeneral dutyAssembly of the statesCommonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby apply to protectCongress under the libertyprovisions of ourArticle people,V particularlyof the Constitution of the United States, for the generationscalling toof come,a byConvention limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States Constitutionthat throughimpose afiscal conventionrestraints ofon the statesFederal underGovernment, Articlelimit Vthe forpower and jurisdiction of the purposeFederal Government and limit the terms of restrainingoffice thesefor its officials and relatedfor abusesmembers of power;Congress;
now,and therefore, be it Resolvedfurther byRESOLVED, the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we hereby apply to Congress, under the provisionsGeneral ofAssembly Article V of the UnitedCommonwealth States Constitution, for the calling of aPennsylvania conventionadopt ofthis theapplication statesexpressly limitedsubject to proposing amendments to the Unitedfollowing Statesreservations, Constitutionunderstandings that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdictiondeclarations: of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress;
and(1) beAn it further Resolved, That the Secretary of State is hereby directed to transmit copies of this application to theCongress Presidentfor ofan theArticle UnitedV StatesConvention Senate,confers theno Secretarypower ofon theCongress Unitedother Statesthan Senate,to theperform Speakera ofministerial thefunction Unitedto Statescall Housea ofConvention. Representatives, the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation;
and(2) beThe itministerial furtherduty Resolved,under Thatparagraph the(1) Secretaryshall ofbe Stateperformed isby herebyCongress directedonly towhen transmitArticle copiesV ofapplications thisfor applicationsubstantially to the presidingsame officerspurpose ofare LSBreceived Researchfrom Servicestwo-thirds Division GCK R0255'26_HCR7_AAH_1 qz849e each of the legislativelegislatures housesof in the several states,states. requesting their cooperation;
and(3) beThe itpower furtherof Resolved,Congress Thatto thiscall application constitutes a continuingConvention applicationconsists insolely accordance with Article V of the Unitedauthority Statesto Constitutionname untila thereasonable legislaturestime ofand atplace leastfor two-thirds of the severalinitial statesmeeting haveof made applications on the sameConvention. subject.
LSB(4) ResearchCongress Servicespossesses Divisionno GCKpower R0255'26_HCR7_AAH_1to qz849ename delegates to the Convention, as this power remains exclusively within the authority of the legislatures of the several states.
(5) Congress possesses no power to set the number of delegates to be sent by any state.
20250HR0125PN1009 - 2 - (6) Congress possesses no power to determine any rules for the Convention.
(7) According to the universal historical precedent of interstate Conventions in America, states meet under conditions of equal sovereignty, which means one state, one vote.
(8) A Convention convened pursuant to this application is limited to consideration of topics solely specified in this resolution.
(9) This application is made with the express understanding that no amendment which in any way seeks to amend, modify or repeal any provision of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States is authorized for consideration.
(10) The General Assembly of the Commonwealth may provide further instructions to its delegates.
(11) The General Assembly of the Commonwealth may recall its delegates at any time for breach of their duties or violation of their instructions.
(12) Under Article V, Congress may determine whether proposed amendments shall be ratified by the legislatures of the several states or by special state ratification Conventions;
and be it further RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recommend that Congress choose ratification by state legislatures;
and be it further RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appoint five delegates to any Convention called pursuant to this application in accordance with the following:
20250HR0125PN1009 - 3 - (1) That the Senate shall choose two delegates.
The House of Representatives shall choose two delegates.
Each chamber shall nominate two additional persons to serve as alternates.
The President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall jointly choose the fifth delegate from the list of nominated alternates.
(2) That the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each nominate five persons to serve as delegates.
Each legislator may cast a vote for not more than two persons on their respective slate.
The two candidates getting the most votes are the Convention delegates appointed by each respective chamber.
The two candidates getting the next highest number of votes are appointed as alternate delegates.
(3) That neither the Governor nor any current member of the Congress of the United States nor any sitting judge of any court be appointed as a delegate of the Commonwealth.
(4) That travel and per diem expenses of each delegate of the Commonwealth be paid by the Commonwealth on the same basis as the reimbursement for such costs when members of the General Assembly travel on official business of the Commonwealth.
(5) That any delegate or alternate of the Commonwealth who receives and accepts any item of value, excluding educational materials, from any person or entity in any connection with his or her service be immediately disqualified and shall be replaced by an alternate immediately.
(6) That each delegate of the Commonwealth take the following oath on penalty of perjury:
20250HR0125PN1009 - 4 - "I promise to faithfully conduct my duties as a delegate from Pennsylvania to the Convention.
I will obey all instructions received with my commission.
Specifically, I will not support, but will affirmatively oppose, any proposal that goes outside the subject matter specified therein.
I further agree to immediately notify the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives if I believe that any Pennsylvania delegate or alternate delegate has violated his or her oath or instructions while participating in the Convention.
I realize that I can and will be immediately removed from my position if I violate this oath and that I will be required to reimburse the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for all expenses paid to me as a delegate.
I realize also that I may be punished for contempt by the General Assembly for failing to adhere to this oath." (7) That prior to the Convention, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth may by concurrent resolution provide further instructions to the delegates of the Commonwealth selected pursuant to this section regarding the scope of matters that they may consider and vote on at the Convention, including rules of procedure and proposed amendments.
Such instructions may be changed by the General Assembly prior to or during the course of the Convention.
These instructions may include:
(i) an instruction that the Pennsylvania delegates may not support any voting rule other than the default rule whereby each state exercises one vote;
and (ii) an instruction that on all voting matters at the Convention, the decision of a simple majority of the delegates of the Commonwealth shall constitute a single 20250HR0125PN1009 - 5 - vote for Pennsylvania.
(8) That after delegates of the Commonwealth have been selected, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth by concurrent resolution recall delegates or alternates to the Convention or appoint new delegates or alternates.
(9) That, if the General Assembly of the Commonwealth is not in session, delegates of the Commonwealth be suspended pending a concurrent resolution by a joint legislative committee duly authorized by the General Assembly for that purpose.
This joint legislative committee shall be authorized to conduct its business via telephone or other means of real- time electronic communication.
(10) A delegate who is recalled, disqualified or otherwise unable to perform his or her duties shall be immediately replaced by one of the alternates, as directed by the concurrent resolution or duly authorized joint legislative committee.
(11) That any vote cast by a delegate of the Commonwealth or an alternate delegate at an Article V Convention that is outside the scope of the following be void:
(i) the instructions established by a concurrent resolution adopted under this section;
and (ii) the limits placed by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth in a concurrent resolution that calls for an Article V Convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States on the subjects and amendments that may be considered by the Article V Convention or, if Pennsylvania was not one of the states applying for an Article V Convention, the 20250HR0125PN1009 - 6 - limits contained in the narrowest state resolution applying for the Article V Convention;
and be it further RESOLVED, That this resolution constitute a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until at least two-thirds of the legislatures of the several states have made application for a Convention on the same subject;
and be it further RESOLVED, That a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of Congress from Pennsylvania and to the presiding officers of each house of the state legislatures requesting their cooperation in applying for a Convention limited to the subject matter contemplated by this application.
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