[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-187. A resolution adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of South Carolina repealing Joint Resolution 775 from 
     1976 and rescinding all previous calls for a constitutional 
     convention; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                                H. 3400

       Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of South 
     Carolina, acting with the best of intentions, at various 
     times and during various sessions, has previously made 
     applications to Congress to call one or more conventions to 
     propose either a single amendment concerning a specific 
     subject or to call a general convention to propose an 
     unspecified and unlimited number of amendments to the United 
     States Constitution, pursuant to the provisions of Article V 
     thereof; and
       Whereas, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the 
     United States of America Warren E. Burger, former Associate 
     Justice of the United States Supreme Court Arthur J. 
     Goldberg, and other leading constitutional scholars agree 
     that such a convention may propose sweeping changes to the 
     Constitution, any limitations or restrictions purportedly 
     imposed by the states in applying for such a convention or 
     conventions to the contrary notwithstanding, thereby creating 
     an imminent peril to the well-established rights of the 
     citizens and the duties of various levels of government; and
       Whereas, the Constitution of the United States of America 
     has been amended many times in the history of this nation and 
     may be amended many more times, without the need to resort to 
     a constitutional convention, and has been interpreted for 
     more than two hundred years and has been found to be a sound 
     document which protects the lives and liberties of the 
     citizens; and
       Whereas, there is no need for, rather, there is great 
     danger in, a new constitution or in opening the Constitution 
     to sweeping changes, the adoption of which would only create 
     legal chaos in this nation and only begin the process of 
     another two centuries of litigation over its meaning and 
     interpretation. Now, therefore, be it
       Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South 
     Carolina:
     Repeal
       SECTION 1. Joint Resolution 775 of 1976 is repealed.
     Disavowed
       SECTION 2. The General Assembly of the State of South 
     Carolina disavows any other calls or applications for a 
     constitutional convention made to Congress prior to the 
     effective date of this act, by any means expressed, 
     including, but not limited to, S. 1024 of 1978.
     Copies forwarded
       SECTION 3. The Secretary of State is directed to forward 
     copies of this act bearing the Great Seal of the State to the 
     following persons: The President and Vice President of the 
     United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     and each member of the South Carolina Congressional 
     Delegation in Washington, D.C.
     Time effective
       SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the 
     Governor.

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