Hawaii House Bill HCR13

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/23
• Refer: 2/16/23

Caption

Urging The Congress Of The United States To Call A Convention For Proposing Amendments Pursuant To Article V Of The United States Constitution Limited To Proposing Amendments 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.

Impact

If enacted, HCR13 would not change state law directly but would initiate a significant process involving the potential for constitutional amendments at the federal level. It aims to address long-standing concerns regarding the responsiveness of the federal government, highlighting issues of national debt, executive overreach, and bureaucratic control over policies that many believe should be determined by elected representatives. The resolution also suggests that state-level policy decisions are more aligned with the will of the people, as opposed to federal mandates that may be seen as out of touch.

Summary

HCR13 is a House Concurrent Resolution presented to the Hawaii Legislature urging the U.S. Congress to call for a convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution under Article V. The proposed amendments would focus on imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting its power and jurisdiction, as well as establishing term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution reflects growing concerns about excessive federal authority and the perceived lack of accountability in federal governance, particularly regarding spending and administrative mandates.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HCR13 is the fear that calling a convention might open the door to unintended consequences, notably the risk of constitutional amendments that could threatened existing rights, particularly those enshrined in the Bill of Rights. The resolution explicitly states that any amendments considered must not modify or repeal any provisions of the Bill of Rights, which could lead to heated debates about the balance of power between state and federal authority. There are also concerns regarding the process of delegate selection and the ability of Congress to regulate the convention, which proponents of HCR13 clearly seek to restrict.

Additional_notes

The resolution also mandates that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism conduct a study on the potential impacts of these proposed fiscal restraints on Hawaii's economy, signaling an acknowledgment of the possible effects any constitutional changes may have on state governance and finances.