As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session H. J. R. No. 2
2025-2026
Representatives McClain, Willis
Cosponsors: Representatives Plummer, Dovilla, Demetriou, John, Hiner, Holmes,
Schmidt, Barhorst, Lear, Creech, Bird, Manning, Pizzulli, Lorenz, Hall, T.,
Klopfenstein, Miller, M., Hoops, Deeter, Fischer, Williams, Johnson, Daniels, Salvo
A J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
Application to the Congress of the United States for a
Convention of the States under Article V of the
Constitution of the United States that is 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 members of
Congress.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
WHEREAS, The Founders of the Constitution of the United
States empowered State Legislators to be guardians of liberty
against excessive use 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 ceased to operate
under a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United
States; and
WHEREAS, The federal government has invaded the legitimate
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As Introduced
roles of the States through the manipulative process of federal
mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent; 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 to
place clear restraints on these and related abuses of power; now
therefore be it
RESOLVED, The Ohio General Assembly 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 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 members of Congress of the United
States; and be it further
RESOLVED, That 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; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Ohio General Assembly adopts this
resolution expressly subject to reservations, understandings,
and declarations, including:
An application to the Congress of the United States to
call a Convention of the States to propose amendments to the
Constitution of the United States pursuant to Article V of the
Constitution of the United States confers no power to the
Congress other than the power to call such a Convention;
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As Introduced
The power of the Congress of the United States to exercise
this ministerial duty consists solely of the authority to name a
reasonable time and place for the initial meeting of a
Convention;
The Congress of the United States shall perform its
ministerial duty of calling a Convention of the States for
proposing amendments only upon the receipt of applications for a
Convention of the States for the substantially same purpose as
this application from two-thirds of the legislatures of the
several States;
The Congress of the United States does not have the power
or authority to determine any rules for the governing of a
Convention of the States for proposing amendments called
pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States;
The Congress of the United States does not have the power
to set the number of delegates to be sent by any State to such a
Convention, nor does it have the power to name delegates to such
a Convention;
The power to name delegates remains exclusively within the
authority of the legislatures of the several States;
By definition, a Convention of the States means that the
States shall vote on the basis of one state, one vote;
A Convention of the States for proposing amendments to the
Constitution of the United States convened pursuant to this
application shall be limited to consideration of the topics
specified herein and no other;
This application is made with the express understanding
that an amendment that in any way seeks to amend, modify, or
repeal any provision of the Bill of Rights shall not be
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As Introduced
authorized for consideration at any stage;
Pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United
States, the Congress of the United States may determine whether
proposed amendments shall be ratified by the legislatures of the
several States or by special state ratification conventions;
The Ohio General Assembly recommends that the Congress of
the United States select ratification by the legislatures of the
several States;
The Ohio General Assembly may provide further instructions
to its delegates and may recall its delegates at any time for a
breach of a duty or a violation of the instructions provided;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Ohio House of
Representatives is hereby directed to transmit duly
authenticated 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 to each
member of the Senate and House of Representatives from this
State; also to transmit duly authenticated copies to the
presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the
several States, requesting their cooperation.
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