Here is how I worded, feel free to take for your own, re word here or there. It is now public for Freeping in your State. :)
RESOLUTION
To call for an Article V Convention to Propose a Balanced Budget Amendment and Further Fiscal Restraints upon the U.S. Federal Government
Whereas, the federal government is out of control and though politicians promise to cut spending and cut taxes they continue to rise no matter which party is in power.
Whereas, The Founding Fathers gave us the answers to our problems continuously in the U.S. Constitution
Whereas, in Article V. of the Constitution it gave 2 ways to propose amendments to the Constitution:
1. by means of 2/3rds of the Congress (who will not give up the power) and
2. by 2/3rds of the States to call for a “Convention for proposing Amendments”.
Resolved we urge Texas Legislators to join Georgia and call for a Convention of States for the purpose of proposing amendments to the U.S. constitution only to limit the power of the Federal government and return the power to the States where the Founding Fathers meant it to be.
Be it further resolved that the Convention be limited to restoring the American Republic by Amendments that:
1. Establishing Term Limits for members of Congress,
2. Repealing the 17th amendment and restoring the Senate to be mindful of the States
3. Limiting federal spending and taxing
4. Protect private property
5. To grant the States the authority to check congress and regulatory agencies.
6. To protect the vote
Unfortunately, people seem to believe that one tea party victory (Ted Cruz) means the 17th amendment shouldn’t be repealed. The fact that most state legislatures are republican and would probably result in a republican majority in the senate seems to fall on deaf ears.
I am afraid that I do not share your eagerness for a ConCon.
Though I can tell your intentions for such a convention are pure and noble, at this juncture, I think it would be opening the door for the progressives and libertarians to cause much damage.
Had a gal in my pct. that had never gone to any convention but willing to learn. I told her wear red/ white and blue, any pins, flag pins and bling that you can find.
It just makes it lots of fun.
I also took elephant necklaces to share so my section looked very festive!
Congratulations!
Every FReeper should know this process thoroughly and take an active part.
You know those Iowa caucuses that everyone hates? This is exactly what they are: People gather together in their own neighborhoods to discuss issues, pass on platform resolutions and elect local officers and delegates to the next level.
Once every four years, the caucuses take a few minutes for a casual, NON-BINDING presidential preference poll and outsiders go crazy! Meanwhile, the real business is conducted like always.
God bless you for your template. And I thank God that my state of GA was the first to call for Article V and the limitations it imposes.
I found this over on the Convention of States Project website. It's the exact wording from the text of the legislation that's currently working it's way through the legislatures of just about every state...
Application for a Convention of the States under Article V of the Constitution of the United States
Whereas, the Founders of our 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 Constitution of the United States, and
Whereas, it is the solemn duty of the States to protect the liberty of our people— particularly for the generations to come—by proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a Convention of the States under Article V for the purpose of restraining these and related abuses of power,
Be it therefore resolved by the legislature of the State of ______:
Section 1. The legislature of the State of ______ hereby applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.
Section 2. The secretary of state is hereby directed to transmit copies of this application to the President and Secretary of the United States Senate and to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and copies to the members of the said Senate and House of Representatives from this State; also to transmit copies hereof to the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several States, requesting their cooperation.
Section 3. This application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the several states have made applications on the same subject.
Leaving my comments on the Article V Convention aside, this is an excellent primer on how resolutions work in the Republican Party here in Texas.
Here is one place the grassroots, the mere individual, can sometimes have a powerful impact on how things are done.
Texas PING! List.
While the county conventions are (mostly?) over, there is a lot of work at the grassroots we can get involved in.
Please connect with The Bat Lady if you have questions.
I have been going to mine since moving from Travis to Williamson County, but unfortunately the Precinct Chair tries to run it like his personal fiefdom.
You rock out loud!