HR 1861: United States Congress; call a convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United States limited to proposing amendments to limit the influence of money in political elections and on government officials

House Resolution 1861

By: Representatives Sanchez of the 42nd, Frye of the 122nd, and Bell of the 75th

A RESOLUTION

Applying to the United States Congress to call a convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United States limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States to limit the influence of money in political elections and on government officials; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Article V of the Constitution of the United States requires Congress to call a convention limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution upon application of two-thirds of the states; and

WHEREAS, in the wake of previous scandals and public awareness of government corruption, the United States Congress has enacted limitations on campaign contributions and expenditures; and

WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has struck down these limitations and failed to uphold convictions in public corruption cases; and

WHEREAS, issues concerning contributions and expenditures in political elections are at an all-time high and have led to an increase in public distrust.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF

GEORGIA that this body does hereby apply to the United States Congress to call a convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United States limited to proposing an amendment or set of amendments to the Constitution of the United States to limit the influence of money in political elections and on government officials; provided, however, this limitation shall not prevent the consideration of comprehensive actions to address the subject, including without limitation any related limitations on the power of the United States Supreme Court to review any Congressionally enacted legislation authorized by such amendment or set of amendments.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this application shall be considered as covering the same subject matter as the applications from other states to Congress to call a convention to limit the influence of money in political elections and on government officials; and this application shall be aggregated with those of other states for the purpose of attaining the two-thirds of states necessary to require Congress to call a limited convention on this subject, but shall not be aggregated with any other applications on any other subject. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly of Georgia insists that the convention be solely limited to strict consideration of the subject matter contained in this resolution and that the United States Congress enact a severe criminal penalty for persons who violate the finite scope of the call.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States of America until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the several states have made applications on the same subject.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the President and Secretary of the Senate of the United States; to the Speaker, Clerk, and Judiciary Committee Chairperson of the House of Representatives of the United States; to members of the General Assembly of Georgia; and to the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several states, requesting their cooperation.