Mississippi House Bill HC22

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 4/1/23

Caption

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

Impact

One significant aspect of HC22 is its establishment of clear guidelines for selecting both commissioners and alternates. By mandating that commissioners cannot include certain federal and statewide office holders, the resolution aims to prevent conflicts of interest and maintain the integrity of the selection process. This structured approach is intended to foster accountability among those representing the state at the convention, as they must adhere to the instructions provided by the legislature concerning their actions and voting during the convention.

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 22 (HC22) is a legislative resolution introduced in Mississippi that outlines the procedures for selecting commissioners who will attend an Article V Convention, which is convened to propose amendments to the United States Constitution. The resolution specifies that Mississippi will have five commissioners and three alternative commissioners, all of whom must be citizens of the state and meet certain eligibility requirements. The selection process places importance on legislative authority, ensuring that the commissioners represent the state according to procedural integrity.

Contention

The resolution also emphasizes that any vote cast outside of the established instructions by either a commissioner or an alternate shall be considered unauthorized and thus void. This provision could potentially limit the autonomy of the commissioners at the convention, leading to concerns about whether they could effectively represent the interests of Mississippi. Additionally, the authority given to a Joint Legislative Committee to oversee and recall commissioners adds another layer of control that might be viewed as constricting the representational capacity of the commissioners, leading to debates about the balance between oversight and independence.