Senate Resolution No. 944

BY: Senator GRIFFO

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
making an application to the Congress of the United
States of America for the calling of a convention
for the purpose of proposing amendments to the
Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal
limits on the federal government, limit the power
and jurisdiction of the federal government, and
limit the terms of office for members of Congress
and other federal officials

WHEREAS, The Founders of our Constitution empowered State
Legislators and State Legislatures to be guardians of liberty against
future abuses of power by the federal government; and

WHEREAS, The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution specifically
provides that all powers not delegated to the federal government nor
prohibited by the Constitution to the states, are then reserved to the
states respectively, or to the people; and

WHEREAS, For many decades, this balance of power was generally
respected and followed by those occupying positions of authority in the
federal government; and

WHEREAS, The federal government has gradually invaded the legitimate
roles of the states through the process of excessive federal mandates;
and

WHEREAS, The federal government has created a mounting national debt
exceeding $17 trillion; and

WHEREAS, The federal government, and especially the executive
branch, has ceased to abide by and respect the proper interpretation of
the Constitution of the United States; 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 for the purpose of restraining these and
related abuses of power; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of New York believes it to be
in the best interest of the people of the United States that Amendments
to the Constitution of the United States be considered that impose
fiscal limits on the federal government, limit the power and
jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office
for members of Congress and other federal officials; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED (if the concur), The legislature of the State of New
York 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 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 members of Congress and other federal
officials; and be it further

RESOLVED (if the concur), 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 (if the concur), The secretary of state is hereby
directed to transmit 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 copies to the members of
the said Senate and House of Representatives from this State; also to
transmit copies hereof to the presiding officers of each of the
legislative houses in the several States, requesting their cooperation.