Mississippi House Bill HC9

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/22
• Refer: 1/13/22
• Failed: 4/5/22

Caption

Article V Convention; provide for selection and authority of commissioners.

Impact

Under HC9, Mississippi will appoint a delegation of five commissioners and three alternates to represent the state at an Article V Convention. These individuals must meet particular eligibility criteria and must include citizens of Mississippi. The selection of these commissioners is vested in the Legislature, which will choose them by a majority vote. There are limits on the composition of this commission to maintain accountability, stating that no more than two commissioners may be non-sitting members of the legislature.

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 9 (HC9) proposes the establishment of procedures for the selection and authority of commissioners from Mississippi to attend an Article V Convention, which is called for proposing amendments to the United States Constitution. The resolution emphasizes that this specific method of selecting commissioners is necessary in anticipation of such a convention being called by Congress, in accordance with Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution articulates a specific structure for the participation and governance of these commissioners, ensuring that their role remains compliant with the expectations set forth by the state's legislature.

Contention

A notable aspect of HC9 is its detailed framework for the authority and instruction of commissioners during the convention. The resolution outlines that commissioners must adhere strictly to the legislative guidelines set forth by concurrent resolutions. Unauthorized votes or actions that fall outside this scope are declared void. This strict adherence to legislative instructions aims to maintain a unified direction in the state’s approach to any proposed amendments, though it does raise concerns about flexibility and responsiveness to evolving discussions at the Convention.