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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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rescinding the application of the 26th Texas Legislature made in |
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the year 1899 to the United States Congress to call an unrestricted |
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national convention, pursuant to Article V of the United States |
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Constitution, for proposing undisclosed amendments to that |
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Constitution. |
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WHEREAS, In adopting Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, the |
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26th Texas Legislature, in the year 1899, applied to the United |
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States Congress to call a convention, under the terms of Article V |
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of the United States Constitution, "...for proposing amendments to |
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said Constitution..." that would be subject to potential |
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ratification; and |
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WHEREAS, That particular application--unlike subsequent and |
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more detailed applications from Texas lawmakers--did not prescribe |
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any boundaries on the subject matter of amendments to be discussed |
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or ultimately offered for ratification by such a nationwide |
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convention; and |
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WHEREAS, While indeed no Article V convention has yet taken |
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place thus far in American history, nevertheless, there is a very |
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real possibility that one, or more than one, could be triggered at |
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some point in the future--the precise results of which cannot be |
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predicted or known in advance; and |
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WHEREAS, At the present time, the Texas Legislature has |
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absolutely no desire or intention whatsoever for Congress to call |
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an Article V convention of a general, vague, and unlimited nature; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4 remains just as |
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alive and valid today as it was when it was approved by Texas |
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legislators 114 years ago; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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Regular Session, 2013, hereby officially rescinds, repeals, |
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revokes, and nullifies Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, Acts of |
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the 26th Legislature, Regular Session, 1899, calling for an |
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open-ended, unclear, and indeterminate Article V convention to |
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propose for ratification unspecified federal constitutional |
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amendments, which application was duly received by Congress, and |
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reprinted word for word in the Congressional Record of December 11, |
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1899, at page 219, and which application was referred to the |
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Committee on the Judiciary in the United States House of |
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Representatives the very next day (Congressional Record at page |
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280); and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in a manner which would furnish confirmation |
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of delivery and tracking while en route, the Texas Secretary of |
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State shall transmit properly-certified copies of this joint |
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resolution--together with copies of Senate Concurrent Resolution |
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No. 4--pursuant to the Standing Rules of the United States Senate |
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(namely, Rule VII, paragraphs 4, 5, and 6) to the Vice-President of |
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the United States (in his capacity as presiding officer of the |
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United States Senate and addressed to him at the office which he |
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maintains inside the United States Capitol Building); to the |
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Secretary and Parliamentarian of the United States Senate; and to |
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both United States Senators representing Texas; accompanied by a |
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cover letter to each addressee drawing attention to the fact that it |
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is the 83rd Texas Legislature's courteous, yet firm, request that |
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the full and complete verbatim text of this joint resolution--as |
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well as the full and complete verbatim text of Senate Concurrent |
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Resolution No. 4--be duly published in the United States Senate's |
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portion of the Congressional Record, as an official memorial to the |
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United States Senate, and that this joint resolution--with Senate |
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Concurrent Resolution No. 4 appended thereto--be referred to |
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whichever committee(s) of the United States Senate that would have |
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appropriate jurisdiction in this matter, and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in a manner which would furnish confirmation |
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of delivery and tracking while en route, the Texas Secretary of |
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State shall likewise transmit properly-certified copies of this |
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joint resolution--together with copies of Senate Concurrent |
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Resolution No. 4--pursuant to the Rules of the United States House |
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of Representatives (namely, Rule XII, clauses 3 and 7) to the |
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Speaker, Clerk, and Parliamentarian of the United States House of |
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Representatives; and to all members of the United States House of |
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Representatives who represent districts in Texas; likewise |
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accompanied by a cover letter to each addressee drawing attention |
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to the fact that it is the 83rd Texas Legislature's courteous, yet |
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firm, request that the substance of this joint resolution--as well |
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as that of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4--be accurately |
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summarized in the United States House of Representatives' portion |
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of the Congressional Record, as an official memorial to the United |
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States House of Representatives, and that this joint |
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resolution--with Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4 appended |
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thereto--be referred to whichever committee(s) of the United States |
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House of Representatives that would have appropriate jurisdiction |
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in this matter. |