HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SJM 8010

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Government Operations

Brief Description:  Postratifying Amendment XXVII.

Sponsors:  Senators Cantu, Fraser, Oke, Winsley, Johnson, Snyder, Hochstatter, Finkbeiner, Strannigan, Schow, Moyer, Palmer, Roach, Deccio and West.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Government Operations:  3/31/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Goldsmith, Vice Chairman; L. Thomas, Vice Chairman; Rust, Ranking Minority Member; Scott, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chopp; R. Fisher; Hargrove; Honeyford; Hymes; Mulliken; D. Schmidt; Sommers; Van Luven and Wolfe.

Staff:  Bonnie Austin (786-7135).

Background:  Article V of the United States Constitution provides that Congress may, by a two-thirds vote of both houses, propose amendments to the United States Constitution.  The proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the states.

On September 25, 1789, the first Congress of the United States proposed a constitutional amendment that reads: "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."  Although six states ratified the amendment at the time, it failed to receive the required three-fourths for ratification. 

Over 200 years later, on May 7, 1992, the state of Michigan became the 38th state to ratify this constitutional amendment.  On May 20, 1992, both houses of Congress adopted resolutions concluding that the proposal had become Amendment XXVII to the United States Constitution.

Since the amendment was ratified, five additional states have postratified the amendment.

Summary of Bill:  The state of Washington postratifies Amendment XXVII to the United States Constitution.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This amendment was written by James Madison.  Washington should postratify the amendment.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Cantu, prime sponsor.