SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SJM 8010

               As Passed Senate, March 15, 1995

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:  2/28/95, 3/1/95 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/15/95, 47‑0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Drew, Hale, Heavey, McCaslin and Winsley.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786-7405)

Background:  Article V of the United States Constitution states (in part) that whenever two-thirds of both houses of Congress shall propose an amendment to the Constitution, the amendment shall become part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.

Amendment XXVII, proposed by the 1st Congress of the United States, states that "No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."

On May 7, 1992, the state of Michigan became the 38th state to ratify the constitutional amendment in question; on May 20, 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 post-ratified the amendment.

Summary of Bill:  The state of Washington post-ratifies Amendment XXVII to the United States Constitution.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  We should post-ratify this U.S. constitutional amendment proposed during the very first Congress of the United States and written by James Madison.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Cantu.