KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Wyoming

SJ0011 • 2023

Convention of states.

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments to the United States Constitution as specified.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Senator Laursen, D
Last action
2023-02-27
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on what happens if two-thirds of state legislatures do not agree to the same purpose for an amendment convention.

Convention of States Resolution

This resolution requests Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments that limit federal government power and spending.

What This Bill Does

  • Requests Congress to convene a convention of states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.
  • Limits the convention's purpose to proposing amendments that restrain federal powers, fiscal practices, and term lengths for federal officials.
  • Specifies that Congress has no authority over rules or delegate selection for the convention.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The federal government, as it would be subject to proposed amendments limiting its power and spending.
  • State governments, which would participate in the convention and potentially ratify new constitutional amendments.

Terms To Know

Convention of States
A meeting called by state legislatures under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose amendments that limit federal power.
Article V
The part of the U.S. Constitution that outlines how new amendments can be added, including through a convention called by states.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution did not pass and is no longer effective.
  • It does not specify what happens if two-thirds of state legislatures do not agree to the same purpose for an amendment convention.
  • The exact rules and procedures for a convention are not detailed in this resolution.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SJ0011HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Zwonitzer, Dv

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the bill that makes it ineffective starting from January 1, 2027.

  • Adds a new section stating that the joint resolution is not effective after January 1, 2027.

Bill History

  1. 2023-02-27 House

    H COW:Failed 21-41-0-0-0

  2. 2023-02-24 House

    H Placed on General File

  3. 2023-02-24 House

    H03 - Revenue:Recommend Do Pass 5-4-0-0-0

  4. 2023-02-14 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H03 - Revenue

  5. 2023-02-06 House

    H Received for Introduction

  6. 2023-02-06 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 17-13-1-0-0

  7. 2023-02-03 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2023-02-02 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  9. 2023-02-02 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  10. 2023-02-02 Senate

    S07 - Corporations:Recommend Do Pass 3-2-0-0-0

  11. 2023-01-20 Senate

    :Rerefer to S07 - Corporations

  12. 2023-01-20 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S03 - Revenue

  13. 2023-01-18 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  14. 2023-01-17 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
23LSO-0595
2023
State of Wyoming
23LSO-0595
Numbered
2.0

Senate JOINT RESOLUTION NO. SJ0011

Convention of states.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Laursen, D, Barlow, Biteman, Brennan, Case, Cooper, Driskill and Kolb and Representative(s) Banks, Berger, Clouston, Davis, Olsen, Singh, Strock and Zwonitzer, Dn

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments to the United States Constitution as specified.

WHEREAS, the framers of the Constitution of the United States empowered state legislatures to be guardians of liberty against future abuses 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 invaded the legitimate roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandates, many of which are unfunded mandates; and

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

WHEREAS, it is the solemn duty of the states to protect the liberty of the people, particularly for future generations, by proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a convention of the states under Article V of the United States Constitution for the purpose of restraining these and related abuses of power.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That the Legislature of the State of Wyoming 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 several states limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress.

Section 2.

(a)

That the Legislature of the State of Wyoming adopts the application made under Section 1 of this joint resolution expressly subject to the following reservations, understandings and declarations:

(i)

An application to the Congress of the United States to call a convention of the several states pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution confers no power to Congress other than the power to call the convention. The power of Congress to exercise this ministerial duty consists solely of the authority to name a reasonable time and place for the initial meeting of a convention;

(ii)

Congress shall call an amendment convention of the states only upon the receipt of applications for an amendment convention for the substantially same purpose as this application from two-thirds (2/3) of the legislatures of the several states;

(iii)

Congress does not have the power or authority to determine any rules for the governing of an amendment convention of the several states called pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution. Congress does not have the power to set the number of delegates to be sent by any state to a convention nor does it have the power to name delegates to a convention. The power to name delegates remains exclusively within the authority of the legislatures of the several states;

(iv)

By definition, a convention of the states to propose amendments to the United States Constitution means that states shall vote on the basis of one (1) state, one (1) vote;

(v)

A convention of the several states to propose amendments to the Constitution convened pursuant to this application shall be limited to consideration of the topics specified in this joint resolution 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 in any manner;

(vi)

Pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution, Congress may determine whether proposed amendments shall be ratified by the legislatures of the several states or by special state ratification conventions. The Legislature of the State of Wyoming recommends that Congress select ratification by the legislatures of the several states; and

(vii)

The Legislature of the State of Wyoming 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 to the delegates.

Section 3.

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 (2/3) of the several states have made applications on the same subject.

Section 4.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation and to the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several states, requesting their cooperation.

(END)

1

SJ0011