Applies to Congress for a Convention of the States

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. J. R. No. 2

2025-2026

Representatives
McClain, Willis

Cosponsors:
Representatives Plummer, Dovilla, Demetriou, John, Hiner, Holmes,
Schmidt, Barhorst, Lear, Creech, Bird, Manning, Pizzulli, Lorenz,
Hall, T., Klopfenstein, Miller, M., Hoops, Deeter, Fischer, Williams,
Johnson, Daniels, Salvo

A
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

Application
to the Congress of the United States for a Convention of the States
under Article V of the Constitution of the United States that is
limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the
federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal
government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and
members of Congress.

BE
IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

WHEREAS,
The Founders of the Constitution of the United States empowered State
Legislators to be guardians of liberty against excessive use of power
by the federal government; and

WHEREAS,
The federal government has created a crushing national debt through
improper and imprudent spending; and

WHEREAS,
The federal government has ceased to operate under a proper
interpretation of the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS,
The federal government has invaded the legitimate roles of the States
through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which
are unfunded to a great extent; and

WHEREAS,
It is the solemn duty of the States to protect the liberty of our
people, particularly for the generations to come, by proposing
Amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a
Convention of the States under Article V to place clear restraints on
these and related abuses of power; now therefore be it

RESOLVED,
The Ohio General Assembly hereby applies to Congress, under the
provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for
the calling of a Convention of the States limited to proposing
amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government,
limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit
the terms of office for its officials and members of Congress of the
United States; and be it further

RESOLVED,
That this application constitutes a continuing application in
accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States
until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the several States
have made applications on the same subject; and be it further

RESOLVED,
That the Ohio General Assembly adopts this resolution expressly
subject to reservations, understandings, and declarations, including:

An
application to the Congress of the United States to call a Convention
of the States to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United
States pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States
confers no power to the Congress other than the power to call such a
Convention;

The
power of the Congress of the United States to exercise this
ministerial duty consists solely of the authority to name a
reasonable time and place for the initial meeting of a Convention;

The
Congress of the United States shall perform its ministerial duty of
calling a Convention of the States for proposing amendments only upon
the receipt of applications for a Convention of the States for the
substantially same purpose as this application from two-thirds of the
legislatures of the several States;

The
Congress of the United States does not have the power or authority to
determine any rules for the governing of a Convention of the States
for proposing amendments called pursuant to Article V of the
Constitution of the United States;

The
Congress of the United States does not have the power to set the
number of delegates to be sent by any State to such a Convention, nor
does it have the power to name delegates to such a Convention;

The
power to name delegates remains exclusively within the authority of
the legislatures of the several States;

By
definition, a Convention of the States means that the States shall
vote on the basis of one state, one vote;

A
Convention of the States for proposing amendments to the Constitution
of the United States convened pursuant to this application shall be
limited to consideration of the topics specified herein and no other;

This
application is made with the express understanding that an amendment
that in any way seeks to amend, modify, or repeal any provision of
the Bill of Rights shall not be authorized for consideration at any
stage;

Pursuant
to Article V of the Constitution of the United States, the Congress
of the United States may determine whether proposed amendments shall
be ratified by the legislatures of the several States or by special
state ratification conventions;

The
Ohio General Assembly recommends that the Congress of the United
States select ratification by the legislatures of the several States;

The
Ohio General Assembly may provide further instructions to its
delegates and may recall its delegates at any time for a breach of a
duty or a violation of the instructions provided; and be it further

RESOLVED,
That the Clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives is hereby
directed to transmit duly authenticated copies of this application to
the President and Secretary of the United States Senate and to the
Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and
to each member of the Senate and House of Representatives from this
State; also to transmit duly authenticated copies to the presiding
officers of each of the legislative houses in the several States,
requesting their cooperation.