Arizona
“[T]he Congress of the United States call a constitutional convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year.” – Arizona SJR 1002 (1979)
Representative Application
For each of the 40 States, one representative application has been highlighted. An explanation is provided as to why this application should be aggregated toward the total calling for a convention for proposing amendments. Additional applications from the State, if any, are also included.
Arizona SJR 1002 (1979) is among the seventeen States that articulate the problem of fiscal responsibility with a phrase nearly identical to “the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year.” There are some slight variations, the biggest being Wyoming referring to “receipts” rather than “revenue.”
SJR 1002 (1979)
A JOINT RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES REQUIRING THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY THE TOTAL OF ALL FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ANY FISCAL YEAR MAY NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL OF ALL ESTIMATED FEDERAL REVENUES FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR.
Whereas, with each passing year this nation becomes more deeply in debt as its expenditures grossly and repeatedly exceed available revenues, so that the public debt now exceeds hundreds of billions of dollars; and
Whereas, the annual federal budget continually demonstrates an unwillingness or inability of both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government to curtail spending to conform to available revenues, and
Whereas, unified budgets do not reflect actual spending because of the exclusion of social outlays which are not included in the budget nor subject to the legal public debt limit; and
Whereas, knowledgeable planning, fiscal prudence and plain good sense require that the budget reflect all federal spending and be in balance; and
Whereas, fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level, with the inflation which results from this policy, is the greatest threat facing our nation; and
Whereas, constitutional restraint Is necessary to bring the fiscal discipline needed to restore financial responsibility; and
Whereas, under Article V of the Constitution of the United States, amendments to the federal Constitution may be proposed by the congress whenever two-thirds of both houses deem It necessary, or on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states the Congress shall call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing amendments.
Therefore
Be It resolved by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
1. That the Congress of the United States Institute procedures to add a new article to the Constitution of the United States and that the Congress of the United States prepare and submit to the several states an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year.
2. That, alternatively, the Congress of the United States call a constitutional convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year.
3. That this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until at least two-thirds of the legislatures of the several states have made similar applications pursuant to Article V, but If Congress proposes an amendment to the Constitution Identical in subject matter to that contained in this Joint Resolution then this petition for a constitutional convention shall no longer be of any force or effect.
4. That the legislatures of each of the several states comprising the United States apply to the Congress requesting the enactment of an appropriate amendment to the federal Constitution or requiring the Congress to call a constitutional convention for proposing such an amendment to the federal Constitution.
5. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, to each Member of the Arizona. Congressional Delegation and to the Secretary of State and the presiding officers of both houses of the legislature of each of the other states in the Union.
Passed the Senate – February 15, 1979 by the following vote: 27 Ayes, 3 Nays, 0 Not Voting
Passed the House – March 9, 1979 by the following vote: 49 Ayes, 8 Nays, 3 Not Voting
Received by the Secretary of State – March 22, 1979