Bill
SJR 506
NC SJR 506 pursues a continuing state call for a single-issue federal convention to decide a countermand amendment and send it to states for ratification.
Purpose and intent
- SJR 506 is a North Carolina joint resolution that, if enacted, would formally apply to Congress under Article V of the U.S. Constitution for the calling of a single-issue federal convention.
- The designated purpose of that convention would be a “countermand amendment convention,” with the sole task of deciding whether the proposed countermand amendment should be sent back to the state legislatures for ratification.
- The resolution asserts that state legislatures control the agenda and authority of delegates to any federal convention, and that Congress must respond to a state-led call for a convention.
Key provisions and changes proposed
- Section 1 – Application for Calling of Convention
- North Carolina would apply to Congress for a single-issue convention of the states to consider a countermand amendment, to be sent back to states for ratification if approved.
- Section 2 – Duration of Application
- The application would be a continuing, ongoing effort under Article V until at least two-thirds of the states (i.e., 34 states) have filed identical or substantially similar applications.
- Section 3 – Instructions to Congress
- Congress would be directed to call the Countermand Amendment Convention within 60 days after receiving the 34th state call.
- Section 4 – Distribution of Copies
- The act would require the Secretary of State to transmit copies to the President, the Secretary of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the U.S. House, members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, and presiding officers of other states, seeking cooperation.
- Section 5 – Effectiveness
- The resolution would take effect upon ratification by North Carolina.
- Background and framing
- The resolution reiterates constitutional premises about republican government and the role of state legislatures in limiting delegates and agenda at a federal convention. It frames the proposed convention as a mechanism to address egregious national issues that Congress, the courts, or the executive branch allegedly fail to address.
Who would be affected
- North Carolina General Assembly would file and maintain the ongoing application.
- Congress would be compelled to respond by calling a convention if the threshold (34 states) is reached.
- The Secretary of State of North Carolina would distribute copies to federal and state officials and leadership in other states.
- State legislatures nationwide would be involved, as repeated identical or substantially similar applications from at least 34 states would be required to trigger a convention.
- The measure has no immediate budgetary impact and does not itself alter federal or state law; its effect hinges on future actions by Congress and additional states.
Procedural and timeline notes
- Status: Passed 1st Reading in the North Carolina Senate.
- Introduced: April 3, 2023; filed April 3, 2023.
- Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate (April 4, 2023).
- If adopted and ratified by North Carolina, the resolution would be an ongoing, intergovernmental action seeking to influence the federal constitutional amendment process, contingent on Congress’s scheduling of a convention and the subsequent ratifications by additional states.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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