2013 Senate Joint Resolution V

Call for “Article V” U.S. balanced budget amendment convention

Introduced in the Senate

May 23, 2013

Introduced by Sen. Michael Green (R-31)

To submit an application to Congress calling for a "convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution," limited to proposing an amendment that prohibits the federal government from spending more in any fiscal year than it collects in tax and other revenue (balanced budget amendment). Legislatures representing two-thirds of the states must request this to get a convention, and three-quarters of the states must approve any amendment proposed by an “Article V” convention for it to become part of the constitution. The resolution names 17 states that have submitted applications.

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations

Nov. 7, 2013

Passed in the Senate 26 to 12 (details)

To submit an application to Congress calling for a "convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Consitution," limited to proposing an amendment that prohibits the federal government from spending more in any fiscal year than it collects in tax and other revenue (balanced budget amendment). Legislatures representing two-thirds of the states must request this to get a convention, and three-quarters of the states must approve any amendment proposed by an “Article V” convention for it to become part of the constitution. The resolution names 17 states that have submitted applications.

Received in the House

Nov. 7, 2013

Referred to the Committee on Financial Liability Reform

March 20, 2014

Substitute offered

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-53)

To require a proposed convention of the states to also consider a constitutional amendment to create an exception to the First Amendment's prohibition on Congress enacting laws limiting freedom of speech, so that Congress could enact a law banning burning the U.S. flag.

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Irwin flag burning amendment is not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

The motion passed 59 to 51 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-53)

To also require a proposed convention of the states to consider a proposal to repeal the 16th Amendment (the one authorizing a federal income tax).

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Irwin income tax amendment is not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

The motion passed 59 to 51 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-53)

To also require a proposed convention of the states to consider a proposal to restrict federal regulatory power under the U.S. Constitution's commerce clause.

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Irwin commerce clause amendment is not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

Consideration postponed

Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-53)

To also require a proposed convention of the states to consider a proposal to give the president line-item veto authority.

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Irwin line item veto amendment is not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

Consideration postponed

Amendment offered by Rep. Phil Cavanagh (D-10)

To also require a proposed convention of the states to consider a proposal mandating the convention consider an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would "promote clean elections".

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Cavanaugh amendment is not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

Consideration postponed

Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-53)

To also require a proposed convention of the states to consider a proposal to "strengthen the rights of property owners in cases involving eminent domain".

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Irwin eminent domain amendment s not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

Consideration postponed

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To define an "emergency" exception to a proposed ban on federal deficit spending as "including, but not limited to, an attack by a foreign nation or terrorist organization within the United States".

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To require a proposed federal balanced budget amendment to have an exception allowing federal deficit spending for Keynesian "stimulus" programs during an economic recession.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To require a proposed federal balanced budget amendment to have an exception allowing federal deficit spending for "fully funding" Medicare and Social Security spending.

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Barnett social security and Medicare amendment is not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

Consideration postponed

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To establish that if two thirds of the states have not petitioned for the proposed convention by the end of 2014 or then this state's petition no longer applies.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To also require the proposed convention of the states to propose a federal Equal Rights for Women amendment.

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Barnett ERA amendment is not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

Consideration postponed

Amendment offered by Rep. Vicki Barnett (D-37)

To also require any amendment offered by the proposed convention of the states to mandate that each state establish a nonpartisan congressional district redistricting commission.

Consideration postponed

Motion by Rep. Jim Stamas (R-98)

To establish that the Barnet redistricting commission amendment is not "germane" and so violates the rules of the House.

Consideration postponed

Amendment offered

To define an "emergency" exception to a proposed ban on federal deficit spending as "including, but not limited to, an attack by a foreign nation or terrorist organization within the United States".

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 77 to 32 (details)

To submit an application to Congress calling for a "convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Consitution," limited to proposing an amendment that prohibits the federal government from spending more in any fiscal year than it collects in tax and other revenue (balanced budget amendment). Legislatures representing two-thirds of the states must request this to get a convention, and three-quarters of the states must approve any amendment proposed by an “Article V” convention for it to become part of the constitution. The resolution names 17 states that have submitted applications.

Received in the Senate

March 25, 2014

March 26, 2014

Passed in the Senate 25 to 12 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.