Tennessee became the fifth state to call for a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to bring back powers to the states and limit the federal government's supervision.
In a 59-31 vote, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed the Senate Joint Resolution 67 on Feb. 4 "to make application to the Congress of the United States to call an Article V convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to the United States Constitution."
The resolution was drafted by the Convention of the States Project.
Its basis is Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which states that "The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof..."
Tennessee's resolution said "the federal government has created a crushing national debt through improper and imprudent spending" and "has invaded the legitimate roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent."
"The federal government has ceased to operate under a proper interpretation of the United States Constitution," it added.
The resolution added that "it is the solemn duty of the states to protect the liberty of our people, particularly for future generations of Americans, by proposing amendments to the United States Constitution through a Convention of the States under Article V for the purpose of restraining these and related abuses of power."
"Be it resolved ... that this legislative body does hereby apply to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the United States Constitution for the calling of a convention of the states, limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress," it reads.
Tennessee's Senate approved the resolution last year and Gov. Bill Haslam signed the House resolution Tuesday.
"Our Founding Fathers would be appalled by today's federal overreach," said Republican state Rep. Jay Reedy. "In their wisdom, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 unanimously inserted into Article V the power of the States to be the final check on the federal government."
Republican state Rep. Judd Matheny called the approved resolution as the "atomic bomb of politics."
"We have put an atomic bomb on a plane and it's flying over the District of Columbia. And if they don't listen, then we're going to get done what needs to get done," he added, according to The Tennessean.
Besides Tennessee, Alabama, Alaska, Florida and Georgia have formally adopted Article V resolutions.
The resolutions have also been introduced in 33 other state legislatures this year.
Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott endorsed an Article V Convention in his "Texas Plan," saying that "each branch of [the federal] government has strayed from its intended role."
