Representative Merrill F. Nelson proposes the following substitute bill:


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JOINT RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A CONVENTION TO

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AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

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2017 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Merrill F. Nelson

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Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This joint resolution of the Legislature petitions Congress for an Article V convention
11     of the states to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This joint resolution:
14          ▸     petitions Congress for an Article V convention of the states to propose amendments
15     to the Constitution of the United States to impose fiscal restraints on the federal
16     government and to limit the federal government's power and jurisdiction; and
17          ▸     petitions Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States
18     for the same purpose.
19     Special Clauses:
20          None
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22     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          WHEREAS, the founders of the Constitution of the United States empowered state
24     legislators to be guardians of liberty against future abuses of power by the federal government;
25          WHEREAS, the federal government has created a crushing national debt through

26     improper and imprudent spending;
27          WHEREAS, the federal government has invaded the legitimate roles of the states
28     through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great
29     extent;
30          WHEREAS, the federal government has ceased to live under a proper interpretation of
31     the Constitution of the United States; and
32          WHEREAS, it is the solemn duty of the states to protect the liberty of our people -
33     particularly for the generations to come - by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the
34     United States through a convention of the states under Article V for the purpose of restraining
35     these and related abuses of power:
36          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
37     hereby petitions the Congress of the United States to propose amendments to the Constitution
38     of the United States, for submission to the states for ratification, to impose fiscal restraints on
39     the federal government and to limit the federal government's power and jurisdiction.
40          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the
41     United States, the Utah Legislature joins in the applications of the states of Georgia (S.R. 736,
42     2014), Florida (S.M. 476, 2014), Alaska (H.J.R. 22, 2014), Alabama (H.J.R. 112, 2015),
43     Tennessee (S.J. 67, 2016), Indiana (S.J.R. 14, 2016), Oklahoma (S.J.R. 4, 2016), and Louisiana
44     (S.C.R. 52, 2016) for a convention of the states for the specific and exclusive purpose of
45     proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States limited to the purposes stated
46     therein; provided, however, that the commissioners from Utah to said convention are expressly
47     limited to consideration and support of amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal
48     government, and amendments that limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government,
49     and no other amendments on any topic whatsoever.
50          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah intends that this
51     application be aggregated with the subsequent applications of other states limited to the
52     purposes identified in this application and with subsequent applications for the same purposes
53     as those applications of the above-mentioned states.
54          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of
55     the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, members of
56     Utah's congressional delegation, and the state legislators of the other 50 states, requesting their

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