25.3039.01000
Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senators Clemens, Conley
Representatives D. Johnston, Hoverson
A concurrent resolution to rescind all extant applications by the North Dakota Legislative
Assembly to call a convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution under
Article V of the United States Constitution.
WHEREAS, the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, acting with the best of intentions, has
applied to Congress to call one or more conventions to propose amendments regarding specific
subjects or purposes, or to call a general convention to propose an unspecified and unlimited
number of amendments to the United States Constitution under the provisions of Article V of the
United States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the Declaration of Independence proclaims "it is the Right of the People to alter
or abolish" the form of government when the government fails to secure rights of the people;
and
WHEREAS, the Declaration of Independence implies a convention of representatives of the
sovereign people in an Article V "convention for proposing amendments" would have inherent
power to propose sweeping changes to the United States Constitution, regardless of any
limitations purportedly imposed by the states in applying for the convention and creates an
imminent peril to the well-established rights of citizens and the duties of various levels of
government as defined by our Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution has been amended many times in the history of
this nation and may be amended many more times without the need to resort to an Article V
convention; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution has been interpreted for more than 200 years
and is a sound document that protects the lives and liberties of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, there is no need to subject our form of government, which is based on the
Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, to sweeping changes that
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4003
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Legislative Assembly
would undermine the philosophical foundation of instituting government based on the principle
of securing God-given rights; and
WHEREAS, the best solution for reining in the federal government is an informed electorate
who will hold public officials accountable to the existing United States Constitution with its
principles of limited government rather than risking the results of an Article V convention;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:
That the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly rescinds all extant applications by the North
Dakota Legislative Assembly to Congress to call a convention to propose amendments to the
United States Constitution under Article V of the United States Constitution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the North Dakota Legislative Assembly urges all state
legislatures that have applied to Congress to call a convention for either a general or a limited
constitutional convention to rescind those applications; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the Secretary of State forward copies of this resolution
to the President of the United States Senate, the Secretary of the United States Senate, the
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Clerk of the United States House
of Representatives, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the United States House of
Representatives, each member of the North Dakota Congressional delegation, and the
presiding officers of each house of each state legislature in the United States.
Page No. 2 25.3039.01000
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