Upholding the principles of federalism.

26LSO-0234
2026
State of Wyoming
26LSO-0234
Numbered
2.0

Senate JOINT RESOLUTION NO. SJ0002

Upholding the principles of federalism.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Cooper, Crago, Crum, Driskill, Landen, Nethercott and Pappas and Representative(s) Byron, Campbell, E, Connolly, Harshman and Wylie

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION calling upon the members of the Wyoming congressional delegation to uphold the principles of federalism.

WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 1 of the Wyoming Constitution provides that "All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness; for the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper"; and

WHEREAS, the Wyoming Constitution recognizes that "equality in the enjoyment of natural and civil rights is only made sure through political equality"; and

WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution affirms that any powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or to the people, reinforcing the principle of federalism; and

WHEREAS, the states have long served as laboratories of democracy, uniquely positioned to establish election laws and policies that reflect the needs and interests of their citizens; and

WHEREAS, the people of Wyoming have compelling sovereign interests in fostering robust political debate and self-government, protecting the free speech interests of all persons, securing the liberty and political equality of Wyoming's citizens, guarding against corruption and advancing the principles of federalism; and

WHEREAS, a robust system of state-led election governance strengthens self-government, promotes accountability and preserves the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that the people of each state determine how best to protect their representation and participation in the democratic process; and

WHEREAS, the framers of the United States Constitution recognized the role of the states in structuring election laws, procedures and mechanisms, understanding that a single, uniform federal approach is neither necessary nor desirable; and

WHEREAS, the people of Wyoming and other states have a vested interest in ensuring that their elections and electoral processes remain responsive to their needs in ensuring that their elections are free from disproportionate influence by entities or persons that may not reflect the priorities of the people; and

WHEREAS, the principle of self-governance requires that states retain the ability to establish laws governing the influence of money in elections, consistent with each state's unique circumstances and policy considerations; and

WHEREAS, the process for amending the United States Constitution provides an avenue for reaffirming the role of the states in overseeing elections and ensuring that their authority in this realm is preserved.

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 calls upon the three (3) members representing Wyoming in the United States Congress to uphold the principles of federalism and to be proponents of appropriate action, including the adoption of an amendment to the United States Constitution, that affirms the authority of the states to govern their elections and election processes and establishes the ability of each state to enact policies regarding campaign finance and election influence.

Section 2.

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 and to each member of the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

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SJ0002