84R1675 MAW-F
	By: Elkins	H.J.R. No. 144

	A JOINT RESOLUTION
	rescinding the 1899 application of the 26th Texas Legislature to
	the United States Congress to call an unrestricted national
	convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for
	proposing undisclosed amendments to that Constitution.
	WHEREAS, In adopting Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, the
	26th Texas Legislature, in the year 1899, applied to the United
	States Congress to call a convention, under the terms of Article V
	of the United States Constitution, ". . . for proposing amendments
	to said Constitution . . ." that would be subject to potential
	ratification; and
	WHEREAS, That particular application--unlike subsequent and
	more detailed applications from Texas lawmakers--did not prescribe
	any boundaries on the subject matter of amendments to be discussed
	or ultimately offered for ratification by such a nationwide
	convention; and
	WHEREAS, While indeed no Article V amendatory convention has
	yet taken place thus far in American history, nevertheless, there
	is a very real possibility that one, or more than one, could be
	triggered at some point in the future--the precise results of which
	cannot be predicted or contrived in advance; and
	WHEREAS, At the present time, the Texas Legislature has
	absolutely no desire or intention whatsoever for Congress to call
	an Article V amendatory convention of a general, vague, and
	unlimited nature; and
	WHEREAS, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4 remains just as
	alive and valid today as it was when it was approved by Texas
	legislators 116 years ago; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas,
	Regular Session, 2015, hereby officially rescinds, repeals,
	revokes, and nullifies Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, Acts of
	the 26th Legislature, Regular Session, 1899, calling for an
	open-ended, unclear, and indeterminate Article V amendatory
	convention to propose for ratification unspecified federal
	constitutional amendments, which application was duly received by
	Congress, and reprinted word for word in the Congressional Record
	of December 11, 1899, at page 219, and which application was
	referred to the Committee on the Judiciary in the United States
	House of Representatives the very next day (Congressional Record at
	page 280); and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That, in a manner which would furnish confirmation
	of delivery and tracking while en route, the Texas secretary of
	state shall transmit properly certified copies of this joint
	resolution of rescission--together with copies of Senate
	Concurrent Resolution No. 4--pursuant to the Standing Rules of the
	United States Senate (namely, Rule VII, paragraphs 4, 5, and 6), to
	the vice president of the United States (in his capacity as
	presiding officer of the United States Senate and addressed to him
	at the office which he maintains inside the United States Capitol
	Building); to the secretary and parliamentarian of the United
	States Senate; and to both United States senators representing
	Texas; accompanied by a cover letter to each addressee drawing
	attention to the fact that it is the 84th Texas Legislature's
	courteous, yet firm, request that the full and complete verbatim
	text of this joint resolution--as well as the full and complete
	verbatim text of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4--be duly
	published in the United States Senate's portion of the
	Congressional Record as an official memorial to the United States
	Senate, and that this joint resolution--with Senate Concurrent
	Resolution No. 4 appended thereto--be referred to whichever
	committee or committees of the United States Senate that would have
	appropriate jurisdiction in this matter; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That, in a manner which would furnish confirmation
	of delivery and tracking while en route, the Texas secretary of
	state shall likewise transmit properly certified copies of this
	joint resolution of rescission--together with copies of Senate
	Concurrent Resolution No. 4--pursuant to the Rules of the United
	States House of Representatives (namely, Rule XII, clauses 3 and
	7), to the speaker, clerk, and parliamentarian of the United States
	House of Representatives; and to all members of the United States
	House of Representatives who represent districts in Texas; likewise
	accompanied by a cover letter to each addressee drawing attention
	to the fact that it is the 84th Texas Legislature's courteous, yet
	firm, request that the substance of this joint resolution--as well
	as that of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4--be accurately
	summarized in the United States House of Representatives' portion
	of the Congressional Record as an official memorial to the United
	States House of Representatives, and that this joint
	resolution--with Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4 appended
	thereto--be referred to whichever committee or committees of the
	United States House of Representatives that would have appropriate
	jurisdiction in this matter.