|
95th Congress 1st Session S. J. RES. 67 IN THE SENATE 0F THE UNITED STATES
July 11 (legislative day, MAY 18),
1977 Mr. Abourezk
(for himself and Mr. Hatfield) introduced the following joint resolution;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect to the proposal and the
enactment of laws by popular vote of the people of the United States.
Resolved
by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring
therein), That
the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the
Constitution if ratified by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the several States: “Sec. 2.
A law is proposed by presenting to the chief law enforcement officer of
the United States a petition that sets
forth the text of the proposed law and
contains signatures, collected
within the eighteen months prior to
such presentation, of registered voters equal in number to three per centum of
the ballots cast in the last general election for President and which
includes the signatures of registered voters in each of ten States
equal in number to three per centum of the ballots cast in the last general
election for President in each of the ten States.
Within 90 days of such presentation , the chief law enforcement officer
of the United States shall determine the validity of the signatures contained
in such petition through consultation with the appropriate States.
Upon a determination that such petition contains the
required number of valid signatures, he shall certify such petition.
He shall then direct that the proposed law be placed on the ballot at
the next genera] election held for choosing
Members of the House of Representatives occurring at least one hundred
and twenty days after such certification. The Congress shall provide by law
reasonable procedures for the preparation
and transmittal of such petitions, and for certification of signatures on such
petitions. For the purposes of this section, the term 'State' shall include
the District of Columbia. "Sec. 3.
A proposed law shall be enacted upon approval by a majority of the people
casting votes with respect to such proposed law and shall take effect thirty
days after such approval except as otherwise provided in the proposed law.
Any law enacted pursuant to this article shall be a law the same as any
other law of the United States, except that any law to repeal or amend a law
enacted pursuant to this article during the two years immediately following
its effective date must receive an affirmative roll call vote of
two-thirds of the Members of each House duly elected and sworn. No law,
the enactment of which is forbidden the Congress by this Constitution or any
amendment thereof, may be enacted by the people under this article. "Sec. 4. The Congress and the people shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." Reference added by People's Lobby: ·
Article 1
Section 8. Powers Granted to Congress ·
Clause 11.
WAR.
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules
concerning captures on land and water. ·
Clause 12
Army.
To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use
shall be fore a longer term than two years. |