JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING APPLICATION TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES CALLING A CONVENTION OF THE STATES TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO IMPOSE FISCAL RESTRAINTS, LIMIT FEDERAL POWER AND IMPOSE TERM LIMITS
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution 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 United States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, it is the solemn duty of the states to protect the liberty of the American people, particularly for the generations to come, by proposing amendments to the United States Constitution for the purpose of restraining these and related abuses of power; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the Legislature of Maine respectfully applies to the Congress of the United States to call a convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of 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 federal government officials and members of Congress; and be it further
RESOLVED: That this application by this body constitutes a continuing application in accordance with the United States Constitution, Article V until at least two-thirds of the legislatures of the several states have made similar application pursuant to Article V but, if Congress proposes an amendment to the United States Constitution identical in subject matter to any of the 3 subject matters contained in this Joint Resolution, this application for a constitutional convention is no longer of any force or effect for that subject matter; and be it further
RESOLVED: That this application is void, rescinded and of no effect in the event that such a convention is not limited to such specific and exclusive purposes; and be it further
RESOLVED: That this body proposes that the legislatures of each of the several states comprising the United States apply to the Congress requesting the enactment of appropriate amendments to the United States Constitution or requiring the Congress to call a constitutional convention for proposing such amendments to the United States Constitution; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Secretary of the Senate and presiding officers of both houses of the legislatures of each of the several states in the nation, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate and each member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.