Florida
“A memorial to the Congress of the United States making application to the Congress to call a convention for the sole and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget and to make certain exceptions thereto.” – Florida SM 234 (1976)
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.
Florida SM 234 (1976) is among the eight States articulate the problem of fiscal responsibility with a phrase nearly identical to “require a balanced federal budget and to make certain exceptions with respect thereto.” There are some slight variations among this language, most notably North Carolina which replaces “and to make certain exceptions with respect thereto” with “in the absence of a national emergency.”
SM 234 (1976)
A memorial to the Congress of the United States making application to the Congress to call a convention for the sole and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget and to make certain exceptions thereto.
WHEREAS, it is estimated, as of August, 1975, that the federal debt at the end of the 1975 fiscal year will be $558.637 billion, and
WHEREAS, the fiscal year deficit for 1976 will be the largest in our history, between $70 and $80 billion, and
WHEREAS, the growing debt is a major contributor to inflation, lagging economic investment, excessive interest rates, and the resulting unemployment, and
WHEREAS, the economic welfare of the United States and its citizens depends on a stable dollar and sound economy, and
WHEREAS, the National Conference of State Legislatures passed Resolution #11 at its Annual Business Meeting on October 10, 1975, urging the Congress to take prompt and affirmative action to limit federal spending, and
WHEREAS, there is provision in Article V of the Constitution of the United States for amending the Constitution by the Congress, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, calling a convention for proposing amendments which shall be valid to all intents and purposes when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress, NOW, THEREFORE,
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
That the Legislature of the State of Florida does hereby make application to the Congress of the United States pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States to call a convention for the sole purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget and to make certain exceptions with respect thereto.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of Congress, the members of the Congressional delegation from the State of Florida and to the presiding officers of each house of the several state legislatures.
Filed in Office Secretary of State June 10, 1976.