A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT applying to Congress for an Article V Convention of the States with the purpose of proposing amendments to the United States Constitution.
Whereas, the Founders of the Constitution of the United States empowered State Legislators to be guardians against actual or potential abuses of power by the federal government; and
Whereas, the federal government has increasingly usurped legitimate roles of the States; and
Whereas, the federal government has created a crushing national debt through unsustainable budgeting and spending; and
Whereas, it is the solemn duty of the States to protect freedom and opportunity for our citizens, including the generations to come; and
Whereas, Article V of the United States Constitution authorizes a process to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States through a Convention of the States to place clear restraints on these and related abuses of power; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The North Carolina 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 to the Constitution of the United States that (i) impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, (ii) limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and (iii) limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.
SECTION 2.  The application set forth in Section 1 of this act 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 identical or substantially similar applications as the one set forth in Section 1 of this act.
SECTION 3.  The application set forth in Section 1 of this act expires September 30, 2015, if the legislatures of at least two‑thirds of the several states have not made identical or substantially similar applications as the one set forth in Section 1 by that date.
SECTION 4.  The Secretary of State shall transmit copies of this act to (i) the President and Secretary of the United States Senate; (ii) the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives; (iii) each member of the North Carolina delegation to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives; and (iv) the presiding officers of each of the legislative houses in the several states, requesting their cooperation with the purposes of this act.
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.