ID SJM102

The Madison Amendment, introduced in Congress on July 30, 2010, would allow two-thirds of state legislatures to call a constitutional convention limited to proposing a specific amendment without risk of the convention expanding beyond that scope.

Idaho urges Congress to adopt the Madison Amendment to address concerns about excessive federal power, federal debt, and unfunded mandates imposed on states.

The amendment would enable states to propose constitutional amendments (such as banning unfunded mandates) that Congress cannot block, giving states equal power with Congress under Article V.

The Madison Amendment eliminates the risk of an uncontrolled "runaway Constitutional Convention" by clearly establishing states' authority to limit any convention they call to a single amendment.

Idaho directs its Secretary of the Senate to transmit this memorial to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Idaho's congressional delegation.