HCONRES 15119th CongressIn Committee

Calling an Article V Convention for proposing a Fiscal Responsibility Amendment to the United States Constitution and stipulating ratification by a vote of We the People, and for other purposes.

Introduced: Feb 24, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H. Con. Res. 15, introduced February 24, 2025 by Representative Arrington, is a concurrent resolution that would trigger an Articles V convention of the states to propose a Fiscal Responsibility Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. If Congress follows the standard Article V process, the convention would be convened for a date and location to be determined. Crucially, the resolution creates a potential exception: if, within 60 days of adoption, the House Clerk reports that there have never been ongoing “continuing” applications from at least two-thirds of the states for a convention on national issues (including the single subject of fiscal responsibility), then the call for a convention does not apply, and the plan would not move forward unless the House Clerk’s findings are otherwise revisited. Any proposed amendment from the convention would have to be ratified by the people, voting in state conventions in three-quarters of the states (38 states). The bill also directs that a copy of the resolution be transmitted to the Administrator of General Services for transmission to the legislatures of the states, aligning with the traditional process of notifying states about an Article V convention. The text repeatedly emphasizes that the ratification framework should reflect “We the People” and cites Supreme Court guidance (Chiafalo v. Washington) to reinforce that voters’ choices in the ratifying conventions would bind delegates and influence outcomes.

Key Points

1Authorizes Congress to call an Article V convention of states to propose a Fiscal Responsibility Amendment to the Constitution, with the date and place to be determined by the call.
2Includes a potential exception: if within 60 days there is a finding that there have never been unrescinded “continuing” applications from at least two-thirds of the states on national issues (including fiscal responsibility), the call for the convention does not apply, and the process would not proceed unless the criteria are otherwise altered or clarified.
3Any proposed amendment from the convention would require ratification by the people via state conventions, with approval needed in three-quarters of the states (38 states).
4States would ratify through delegates chosen in state conventions, and the measure would bind delegates to reflect the votes of the people (per references to Chiafalo v. Washington).
5The resolution would be transmitted to the Administrator of General Services to forward to the legislatures of the states, formalizing the constitutional notification process.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- U.S. voters and citizens (We the People) who would participate in state convention ratification, and who would be affected by any new Fiscal Responsibility Amendment.Secondary group/area affected:- State lawmakers and state convention delegates who would organize and cast ratifying votes.- Federal lawmakers and constitutional scholars debating the feasibility and scope of an Article V convention and potential fiscal constraints.Additional impacts:- The resolution frames a single-subject focus on fiscal responsibility, which could influence the kinds of amendments considered at any convention.- It uses the people’s ratification model (convention delegates bound by popular votes) and cites recent constitutional-interpretation precedent (Chiafalo) to frame delegation and accountability.- If the 60-day exception conditions are met, the call for a convention could be halted, potentially limiting the escalation toward a fiscal amendment; otherwise, it would proceed toward a national convention and subsequent statewide ratification campaign with substantial political and legal implications.Sponsor as indicated in the bill text is Representative Arrington.The bill is a concurrent resolution, which expresses a position of both chambers of Congress but does not itself create law; it initiates a process rather than enacting policy directly.The concept of “continuing” or “unrescinded” applications for an Article V convention and the precise interpretation of that criterion are debated among scholars and legislators; this bill relies on those concepts as gating criteria for moving forward.

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