Pennsylvania SR 117: A Concurrent Resolution establishing a delegation to represent the Commonwealth at the Amendment Convention pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States entitled the Article V Amendment Convention and limited to proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to grant State Legislatures authority to countermand and rescind any mandate issued by any Branch of the Federal Government or their agencies that encroach on states' rights and the personal liberties of their citizens.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 879
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 117
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DUSH, JUNE 3, 2025
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 3, 2025
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Establishing a delegation to represent the Commonwealth at the
Amendment Convention pursuant to Article V of the
Constitution of the United States entitled the Article V
Amendment Convention and limited to proposing an amendment to
the Constitution of the United States to grant State
Legislatures authority to countermand and rescind any mandate
issued by any Branch of the Federal Government or their
agencies that encroach on states' rights and the personal
liberties of their citizens.
WHEREAS, The General Assembly has applied under the authority
of Article V of the Constitution of the United States to call an
Article V Amendment Convention to amend the Constitution of the
United States to include a countermand amendment that authorizes
the states, upon a vote of three-fifths of the state
legislatures, to nullify and repeal a Federal statute, executive
order, judicial decision, regulatory decision by a Federal
Government agency or other government or nongovernment mandate
imposed on the states; and
WHEREAS, To prepare for the Article V Amendment Convention,
the General Assembly finds it necessary to provide for the
following:
(1) a selection process for delegates to the convention;
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(2) the duties of delegates and alternates;
(3) a state convention delegation chair; and
(4) the specific language of the countermand amendment
on which the legislature authorizes the convention delegates
to vote, so that the countermand amendment may be sent to the
states for ratification by the legislatures of three-fourths
of the several states;
and
WHEREAS, The delegates sent by the legislature to the Article
V Amendment Convention are representatives of the legislature
and are thus required to fulfill the commission assigned to them
in this resolution; and
WHEREAS, Any action taken by a delegate that is not
authorized in this resolution, or as amended and authorized by
the legislature, is ultra vires and may not be relied upon by
delegates from other states or by the convention; and
WHEREAS, The legislature hereby defines the duties and limits
the authority of its delegates to the convention as specifically
provided by this resolution; therefore be it
RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
General Assembly authorize delegates to be summoned and
appointed to participate at the Article V Amendment Convention
according to the terms and conditions set forth in this
resolution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly determine the number and
qualifications of the delegates to be sent to the convention
after the Congress of the United States summons delegates to the
convention; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly add to the number of
delegates or replace or remove any delegate or alternate if, in
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its sole discretion, that action is necessary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That alternates not have an official role at the
convention and may attend the convention only if the delegations
of the states at the convention vote to allow their attendance
or the legislature appoints an alternate to take the place of a
delegate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the General Assembly authorize the State's
delegates to the convention to vote to send the proposed
countermand amendment, as set forth in this resolution, back to
the states for ratification by way of the Congress of the United
States; and be it further
RESOLVED, That delegates be prohibited from voting in favor
of any alternate amendment or modified version of the
countermand amendment set forth in this resolution that might be
introduced at the convention and be instructed to secure a vote
that approves sending the countermand amendment back to the
states for ratification; and be it further
RESOLVED, That upon the enactment of this resolution and
after a total of 34 states have applied for a convention, the
President pro tempore of the Senate appoint three members of the
Senate, with one member being from the minority caucus, to a
legislative Delegate Credential Committee, and the Speaker of
the House of Representatives appoint three members of the House
of Representatives, with one member being from the minority
caucus, who shall have the responsibility and requisite
authority to perform each of its assigned duties described in
this resolution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a vacancy on the Delegate Credential Committee
be filled in the manner of the original appointment; and be it
further
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RESOLVED, That members of the Senate on the Delegate
Credential Committee shall s