Oregon
“That this body respectfully petitions the Congress of the United States to call a convention for the specific 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 with respect thereto.” – Oregon SJM 2 (1977)
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.
Oregon SJM 2 (1977) 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.”
SJM 2 (1977)
To the Honorable Members of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled:
We, your memorialists, the Fifty-ninth Legislature Assembly of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled, most respectfully represent as follows:
Whereas the level of federal expenditures 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 inflation is being fought almost exclusively by monetary policy while fiscal policy could and should be employed; and
Whereas the State of Oregon by its Constitution and its laws in adopting a budget must show a balance relation between the total proposed spending and the total anticipated revenues or provide for paying the deficiency; and
Whereas it is just and proper that the United States of America in its obligation to provide leadership for all of the states of the union should pursue the same policy; and
Whereas a balanced budget would lessen the economic burdens on its citizens; and
Whereas a balanced budget would lessen the need for increased state and local taxes; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
(1) That this body respectfully petitions the Congress of the United States to call a convention for the specific 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 with respect thereto.
(2) That this application by this body 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 Memorial before January 1, 1979, this petition for a constitutional convention shall no longer be of any force or effect.
(3) That this body propose that the legislative body of each of the several states comprising the United States apply to the Congress of the United States requiring the Congress to call a constitutional convention for proposing an appropriate amendment to the Federal Constitution or requesting the enactment of such an amendment to be submitted to the states for ratification.
(4) That a copy of this memorial shall be transmitted to the President of the United States; to each member of the Oregon Congressional Delegation; to the presiding officers of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America; to each Governor of each state in the United States of America; and to the presiding officer of each legislative body in the United States of America.
Adopted by the Senate June 6, 1977
Maribel Cadmus
Secretary of the Senate
Jason Boe
President of the Senate
Adopted by the House June 16, 1977
Philip D. Lang
Speaker of the House