GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

H                                                                                                                                                   2

HOUSE RESOLUTION 1206

Committee Substitute Favorable 6/19/14

Sponsors:

Referred to:

May 28, 2014

A HOUSE RESOLUTION Establishing a house select committee to study the issue of federalism and abuses of federal authority, including whether North Carolina should apply to congress for a convention of the states under article v of the Constitution of the United States.

Whereas, the authors of the Constitution empowered state legislators to be guardians of liberty against abuses 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 invaded the legitimate roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandates, many of which are largely unfunded and unilaterally enacted by the executive branch; and

Whereas, it is the solemn duty of elected officials, including those in state legislatures to protect the liberty of our people, particularly for the generations to come, and to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a Convention of the States under Article V of the Constitution of the United States to place clear restraints on these and related abuses of power; and

Whereas, other states have applied to Congress for a Convention of the States under Article V of the Constitution of the United States, and additional states have either introduced or passed similar resolutions in at least one legislative body; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

SECTION 1.  In accordance with House Rule 26(a), there is established the House Select Committee on a Convention of the States.

SECTION 2.  The Committee is charged with the following:

(1)        Determining whether to adopt a resolution applying to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States calling for a Convention of the States limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States 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.

(2)        Examining the economic impact on North Carolina citizens, communities, and businesses of federal executive branch action which suspends, disregards, or otherwise ignores other federal law.

(3)        Determining whether enforcement activity premised on federal legislative authority has been needlessly and unnecessarily expanded beyond the original intent of such legislation and whether North Carolina may enact laws that would lessen the burden of such enforcement efforts on its citizens.

(4)        Examining whether there exist opportunities for the State of North Carolina to locally administer programs currently directed and managed by the federal government and whether such opportunities might lead to a more efficient and cost‑effective delivery mechanism that ultimately provides greater service to our citizens.

(5)        Examining the net contributions of North Carolinians to the federal purse, compared to the net benefits derived from such contributions, and whether North Carolina might better position itself to derive greater returns on the portion of its citizens' dollars that are tendered to the federal government.

(6)        Examining other related issues in the discretion of the Committee.

SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.