Bill
SJR 3
States urge Congress to call an Article V convention to propose amendments on fiscal restraints, federal power limits, and federal official/legislative term limits.
Status (from provided bill information)
- Introduced: August 15, 2025
- Classification: Senate Joint Resolution (SJR)
- Current procedural note: “Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed.”
- Fiscal committees: none / no fiscal effect reported
Purpose and intent
- SJR 3 is a non‑binding joint resolution urging the United States Congress, under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, to call a “convention of the states” to propose amendments that would:
- impose fiscal restraints on the Federal Government,
- limit the power and jurisdiction of the Federal Government, and
- limit the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress.
- The resolution expresses the sponsoring legislature’s view that such amendments are needed to check federal fiscal practices and perceived federal overreach.
Key provisions and actions required
- Formal request: The legislature (by this resolution) applies to Congress to call an Article V convention on the specified subjects.
- Continuing application: The resolution declares that this application is a “continuing application” under Article V — it remains in effect until at least two‑thirds of state legislatures (currently 34) have made similar applications on the same subject.
- Transmission/destination: The resolution directs that copies be transmitted to:
- the Vice President of the United States (as presiding officer of the U.S. Senate),
- the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,
- each member of the state’s congressional delegation, and
- the presiding officers of the legislatures of the several states, requesting cooperation.
- Effective date: The resolution states it becomes effective upon passage.
Who would be affected / impact
- Direct legal effect: None — SJR 3 is an exercise of the state legislature’s Article V power to apply for a convention; it does not itself amend the U.S. Constitution nor change state law.
- Practical/political impact: If joined by a sufficient number of states, the request would be part of the formal process needed to trigger an Article V convention. That could lead to national deliberations and proposed constitutional amendments on fiscal limits, federal authority, and term limits — proposals that, if adopted by Congress or ratified by three‑fourths of the states, would alter the Constitution.
- Administrative/fiscal impact: The bill states no fiscal effect for state or local government.
Procedural / timeline notes
- Under Article V, an Article V convention is called by Congress when applications on the same subject are received from two‑thirds of state legislatures. This resolution is intended to be part of that body of state applications.
- The resolution requires distribution to federal and state legislative leaders to encourage coordination and similar applications by other states.
Additional notes
- Because SJR 3 is a joint resolution of application (not legislation that creates new state programs or spending), its principal significance is political and procedural — to register the state legislature’s formal demand that Congress call an Article V convention on the specified topics.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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