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69th Legislature 2025 SJ 4.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – SJ 4
1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4
2 INTRODUCED BY M. NOLAND
3
4 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
5 MONTANA APPLYING FOR A CONVENTION OF THE STATES UNDER ARTICLE V OF THE
6 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT
7 TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT REQUIRES A BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET.
8
9 WHEREAS, Article V of the Constitution of the United States mandates that on the "Application of the
10 Legislatures of two thirds of the several States" Congress "shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments";
11 and
12 WHEREAS, the Legislature deems an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring a
13 balanced federal budget is necessary for the good of the American people; and
14 WHEREAS, the debt of the United States exceeds $36 trillion, that is $36,000,000,000,000, the interest
15 on the debt exceeds $1 trillion, and the annual deficit of the United States exceeds $2 trillion annually; and
16 WHEREAS, the United States Congress has failed to address this exigent fiscal crisis and ongoing
17 debt and deficit spending is unsustainable and jeopardizes the physical and financial health and safety of all
18 Americans.
19
20 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
21 THE STATE OF MONTANA:
22 (1) That the Legislature of the State of Montana hereby applies to Congress, under the provisions
23 of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention of the states limited to
24 proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring that in the absence of a national
25 emergency the total of all federal outlays made by Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all
26 estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year, together with any related and appropriate fiscal restraints.
27 (2) That this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the
28 Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the several states have made
69th Legislature 2025 SJ 4.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – SJ 4
1 applications on the same subject.
2 (3) That the Secretary of State is directed to transmit copies of this application to the President and
3 Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives,
4 and the members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives from this state.
5 The Secretary of State is also directed to transmit copies to the presiding officers of each of the legislative
6 houses in the several states requesting their cooperation.
7 - END -