Power Point Presentation Script For The Countermand Amendment
This a brief review of HOW the countermand amendment offers all of the advantages seen in the table comparing it to other Article V proposals. This is about 1/3 of the review.
• COUNTERMAND AMENDMENT
The Missing Piece in the Article V Puzzle
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Slide 1
Introduction
James Madison – The Powers Designation by the Constitution
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James Madison, Jr. (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, political theorist and the fourth President of the United States (1809–1817).*
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He is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for being instrumental in the drafting of the United States Constitution and as the key champion and author of the United States Bill of Rights. *He served as a politician much of his adult life.
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"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former [federal powers]
Slide 2
State Legislatures Created the Federal Government
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• State Legislatures in 1787 created the Federal government.* The government did not create the Legislatures.* They reserved to themselves and future Legislatures, in Article V, the authority to amend the Constitution and modify the conduct of the Federal government in order to preserve States Rights
• It is absurd to argue that State Legislatures must first get the Federal government’s permission (or any other permission), to amend the Constitution*
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Slide 3
State Legislatures Created the Federal Government
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• When the Legislatures ratify any Amendment it is obligatory on the Courts, Congress, Executive Branch, Agencies and financial institutions (including the Federal Reserve) to obey its provisions
• Legislatures are the final arbiters in all Constitutional matters
• State Legislatures can restore our Constitutional Republic safely with the Single Issue Countermand Amendment which includes:*
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• Pre-approved Application by Legislatures on Congress
• Pre-approved Countermand Amendment text by Legislatures
• Pre-approved Delegate Resolution to bind delegates
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Slide 4
Citizen Initiatives, Article V Overview
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• Citizen Initiatives and its team have been the leading authority on the Article V Amendment Process, either through Congress or Conventions, for 40 years
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• Citizen Initiatives’ mission - help State Legislatures preserve and safely apply their sovereign authority, under Article V, against encroachments by:*
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• Congress or Supreme Court
• Executive or non-government mandates
• Regulatory Agencies or Delegates sent to a Convention
• Under Article V, Congress is the facilitator of the Amendment process and provides a manageable transition from Applications to Ratification*
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Slide 5
Citizen Initiatives, Article V Overview
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• When Congress proposes Amendments to the States, they do so as the deliberative body that writes and pre-approves the Amendment before it is sent to the States.* In the same way, State Legislatures are the deliberative body and pre-approve proposed Amendments before the Convention convenes**
• State Legislatures, under Article V, have sovereign deliberative authority over Congress and the Supreme Court which assures that their collective will is obeyed by all Branches of the Federal government**
• State Legislatures (having met their Constitutional obligations) can convene a Convention themselves if Congress causes unwarranted delays*
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Slide 6
Citizen Initiatives, Article V Overview
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• State Legislatures (having met their Constitutional obligations) can convene a Convention themselves if Congress causes unwarranted delays*
• State Legislatures can safely amend the Constitution with “Single Issue” Amendment Conventions, but they cannot arbitrarily rewrite the Constitution through delegates at a Convention
• Legislatures, as the deliberative body, pre-approve the text of all proposed Amendments as well as Delegate Resolutions
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Slide 7
State Legislatures Final Arbiters
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• State Legislatures are the final arbiters in all Constitutional matters through to Ratification
• With the Single Issue Countermand Amendment, Legislatures can address egregious wrongs suffered by their citizens:
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• Safely
• Quickly
• Successfully
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Slide 8
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• National Strategy Committee
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• National Strategy Committee
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• Identify, select and Countermand laws and rulings that are burdensome to the States
• Composed of State legislators and citizens from each State
• Includes a Steering Committee
• Citizen Initiatives facilitates decisions of the National Strategy Committee in the 50 State Legislatures
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• Avoids likely law suites against State Legislatures claiming violations of Article I, 10 which prohibits Interstate Compacts with the permission of Congress
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Slide 9
What Can States Countermand?
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• States can Countermand and rescind laws and regulations that infringe on Constitutional Rights:
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• Enumerated Rights
• Un-enumerated Rights in the 9th and 10th Amendments
• Federal control of State land
• Deficits*
• Debt
• Taxation
• Federal Reserve policies (non government mandates)
• Healthcare*
• Energy
• Mining*
• Local education
• Social issues, and more*
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Slide 10 and 11
Article V Proposing Amendments
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• Article V does not allow the convening of a Constitutional (Open) Convention.
• Article V allows the convening of Amendment Conventions to “Propose Amendments”
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• The purpose of Article V is to protect the supremacy and perpetuity of the Constitution and to protect our civil liberties and States Rights. This is the real genius of the Founders and 1787 State Legislatures
• The simplicity of Article V was deliberate.* Future Legislatures would retain sovereign authority to decide how they should control the Amendment process
