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rescinding certain applications made by the Texas Legislature to |
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the United States Congress to call a national convention under |
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Article V of the United States Constitution for proposing any |
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amendment to that Constitution. |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, the Texas Legislature has approved |
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resolutions officially applying to the Congress of the United |
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States to call a convention, under the terms of Article V of the |
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Constitution of the United States, to offer various amendments to |
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that Constitution; and |
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WHEREAS, While no Article V amendatory convention has yet |
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taken place thus far in American history, nevertheless, there is a |
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very real possibility that one, or more than one, could be triggered |
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at some point in the future; and |
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WHEREAS, Regardless of their age, such past applications from |
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Texas lawmakers remain alive and valid until such time as they are |
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later formally rescinded; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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Regular Session, 2017, hereby officially rescinds, repeals, |
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revokes, cancels, voids, and nullifies any and all applications |
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from Texas legislators prior to the 85th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2017, other than the application provided by H.C.R. |
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No. 31, Acts of the 65th Legislature, Regular Session, 1977, that |
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apply to the United States Congress for the calling of a convention, |
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pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution, regardless |
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of how old such previous applications might be, and irrespective of |
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what subject matters such applications pertained to; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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Regular Session, 2017, hereby declares that any application to the |
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United States Congress for the calling of a convention under |
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Article V of the United States Constitution that is submitted by the |
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Texas Legislature during or after this Regular Session shall be |
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automatically rescinded, repealed, revoked, canceled, voided, and |
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nullified if the applicable convention is not called on or before |
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the 12th anniversary of the date the last legislative vote is taken |
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on the application; 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 of rescission, pursuant to the Standing Rules of the |
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United States Senate (namely, Rule VII, paragraphs 4, 5, and 6), to |
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the vice president of the United States (in his capacity as |
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presiding officer of the United States Senate and addressed to him |
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at the office which he maintains inside the United States Capitol |
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Building); to the secretary and parliamentarian of the United |
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States Senate; and to both United States senators representing |
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Texas; accompanied by a cover letter to each addressee drawing |
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attention to the fact that it is the 85th Texas Legislature's |
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courteous, yet firm, request that the full and complete verbatim |
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text of this joint resolution be duly published in the United States |
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Senate's portion of the Congressional Record as an official |
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memorial to the United States Senate, and that this joint |
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resolution be referred to whichever committee or committees of the |
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United States Senate that would have appropriate jurisdiction in |
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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 of rescission, pursuant to the Rules of the United |
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States House of Representatives (namely, Rule XII, clauses 3 and |
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7), to the speaker, clerk, and parliamentarian of the United States |
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House of Representatives; and to all members of the United States |
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House of 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 85th Texas Legislature's courteous, yet |
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firm, request that the substance of this joint resolution be |
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accurately summarized in the United States House of |
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Representatives' portion of the Congressional Record as an official |
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memorial to the United States House of Representatives, and that |
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this joint resolution be referred to whichever committee or |
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committees of the United States House of Representatives that would |
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have appropriate jurisdiction in this matter. |