S.J.R. 5


Senate Joint Resolution No. 5--Committee on Governme
    nt Affairs

                 January 24, 1995
                 _____________

    Referred to Committee on Government Affairs


SUMMARY--Urges Congress to propose amendment to 
          United States Constitution allowing states 
          to amend Constitution without 
          constitutional convention. (BDR R-95)

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: No.
              Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.



EXPLANATION--Matter in italics is new; matter in bra
ckets [ ] is material to be omitted.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION--Urging Congress to propose an amendment to 
        the United States Constitution allowing three-fourths of the 
        states to amend the Constitution without a constitutional 
        convention.


  WHEREAS, Every amendment to the United States 
Constitution proposed after 1788 has been initiated by 
Congress; and
  WHEREAS, More than 400 petitions from the 
several states requesting a constitutional convention to 
propose amendments have been filed with Congress but have 
never resulted in the calling of a convention; and
  WHEREAS, A proper balance of national and 
state power should exist in a federal system, the present 
mechanism for the states to initiate a constitutional 
convention has proved to be unworkable, and the envisioned 
and desirable balance between national and state powers 
requires a means for the several states to propose 
amendments to the Constitution; and
  WHEREAS, This proposal embodies a sound and 
judicious method for constitutional amendment, providing for 
amendment initiated by a substantial majority of the several 
states and subject to veto by the Congress; now, therefore, 
be it
  RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF 
NEVADA, JOINTLY, That the Nevada Legislature hereby 
urges Congress to propose an amendment to Article V of the 
Constitution of the United States to provide that:
  1.  Whenever three-fourths of the legislatures of the 
several states approve a proposed amendment to the 
Constitution of the United States, the proposed amendment is 
valid as part of the Constitution of the United States 
unless disapproved by two-thirds of both Houses of Congress 
within 2 years after the 34th state approves the proposed 
amendment; and
  2.  Each state has the power to rescind its approval of 
the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States only until the 34th state approves the proposed 
amendment;
and be it further
  RESOLVED, That the Nevada Legislature requests 
that the legislatures of the several states urge Congress to 
approve this amendment to the Constitution of the United 
States; and be it further
  RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate 
prepare and transmit a copy of this resolution to the Vice 
President of the United States as the presiding officer of 
the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
each member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation and 
each legislature of the several states.

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