January 25, 2022, is the day Wisconsin’s State Legislature passed the Convention of States Resolution. Two years ago, the Wisconsin Senate passed our resolution and joined the list calling for a convention to propose amendments. Wisconsin was the 16th State to Pass, and today there are 19 Passed States.
In celebration, here is SJR 8:
You can see the actual document of 2021 Senate Joint Resolution 8, here is the link Wisconsin Senate Joint Resolution 8
Lots of Protections to Our U.S. Constitution Included
It is important to note the Wisconsin Legislative Council published a Amendment memo on April 12, 2021 which explains the resolution and explains several of the many protections. You can read and download it here. WI Legislative Council
SENATE AMENDMENT 1 …The amendment also specifies that the joint resolution does not authorize a convention for proposing any amendments that expand federal power or jurisdiction, or that legitimize any current use of federal power that is unauthorized by the original U.S. Constitution.
The lone footnote to the Amendment Memo may appear at the very bottom of the document and it looks like it is in smaller font, but it is the most powerful protection to our U.S. Constitution. Here it is in (quotes added)
“However, Article V requires three-fourths of the states to ratify any amendments proposed by such a convention.”
The Wisconsin Legislative Council Amendment Memo also includes the history.
HISTORY Senator Bernier introduced Senate Amendment 1 on March 10, 2021. On April 8, 2021, the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Legal Review, and Consumer Protection voted to recommend adoption of the amendment, and passage of the joint resolution, as amended, on subsequent votes of Ayes, 3;Noes,
Thank you Senators and Assemblymen who Sponsored, Co-Sponsored and Voted for it. You can see all of them at: WI Legislative SJR 8 Website
A special Thank You goes out to Wisconsin State Senator, Dan Knodl and Wisconsin State Representative Donna Rozar who among many introduced our resolution in the Assembly. Both also attended a Article V Convention of States Simulation in 2023 which allowed them, and other legislators from 49 states to learn about the many rules, protections, precents, details and practice by actually conducting a Simulated Convention of States. It was sponsored by the Convention of States Foundation.
Thank you also to then Sen. Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) and Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) who called on Secretary Doug La Follette to submit documents for this joint resolution. They threatened to Sue the then Secretary of State for failing to submit the records to Washington D.C. Here is that story Lawmakers Threaten to Sue Sec of State
Happy Birthday Wisconsin! Join us in saving America. Visit Convention of States Website and learn more about it. Especially about signing our petition Sign the Petition.
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