S-617                 _______________________________________________

                                           SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 105

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Moore and Metcalf

Read first time 1/29/85 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE PRESIDING OFFICERS OF THE HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURES OF EACH OF THE OTHER STATES IN THE UNION:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, The only method provided by the Constitution of the United States by which the Legislatures of the several states can begin the process of amending the Constitution is that of petitioning Congress for a constitutional convention; and

          WHEREAS, This method of amendment has never been used except as a means to prod Congress to act; and

          WHEREAS, This method is imperfect, carrying with it doubts and fears which themselves become the issue of concern to the Legislatures and the people, rather than the perceived imperfections requiring amendment; and

          WHEREAS, An effective method of proposing amendments to the Constitution, initiated by the states, remains as necessary as when adopted without dissent by the Constitutional Convention almost two hundred years ago;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully suggest that Congress should either enact legislation such as that proposed by Senator Samuel J. Ervin, Jr., several years ago, to clarify the current procedure of convening a constitutional convention, or should propose an amendment to the Constitution to clarify or change the procedure, so that the states may address themselves to the true issue, not fears and doubts regarding the procedure.

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each member of Congress from the State of Washington, and to the Secretary of State and presiding officers of the Houses of the Legislatures of each of the other States in the Union.