America's Freedom Amendments

has joined the

Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force

In order to focus all energy and resources on the ratification of a Balanced Budget Amendment, America's Freedom Amendments has joined with other like minded organizations to form the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force.

The BBA Task Force is coordinating efforts among the state legislatures for the passage of a resolution to convene a Convention for Proposing Amendments authorized under Article V of the Constitution which will be legally limited to considering a balanced budget amendment.

As a result, information regarding the progress of this effort and how you can assist will be consolidated on one website:  

www.bba4usa.org

 

Two-thirds (34) of the state legislatures need to pass a resolution to convene a Balanced Budget Amendment Convention.  The convention will then debate on whether to propose an amendment.  If an amendment is proposed at the convention, then 38 states (three-fourths) will have to ratify the amendment to add it to the Constitution.

To date, 17 states have passed a resolution to convene a Balanced Budget Amendment Convention. 

To help you understand the process of convening a Balanced Budget Amendment Convention and the need for the Amendment, the BBA Task Force has created a 12 page booklet. 

Email it to your state legislators and ask them to support the issue.

The American Legislative Exchange Council, a national organization of state legislators, has published:

"Proposing Constitutional Amendments by a Convention of the States - A Handbook for State Legislators" written by Constitutional scholar Robert Natelson.

The Handbook outlines the process for states to adopt a resolution to convene a convention and how it can be legally limited to one subject.

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To educate the academic community along with community and government leaders, Robert Natelson, Senior Fellow, Goldwater Institute and Professor of Law at the University of Montana (Ret.) has created a series of papers which describe the original intention of the Founding Fathers regarding the use of a Convention for Proposing Amendments authorized in Article V.

 

 

"Amending the Constitution by Convention: A Complete view of the Founders’ Plan"  (Part 1 in a 3 part series.)

 

 

"Learning from Experience: How the States Used Article V Applications in America’s First Century"  (Part 2 in a 3 Part Series)

 

 

"Amending the Constitution by Convention: Practical Guidance for Citizens and Policymakers"  (Part 3 in a 3 part series)

National Nonbinding Referendum

Balanced Budget Amendment

Let's put it on the ballot ... like Florida did.

We can settle the matter of whether the American people want Congress to stop borrowing money to pay for the expansion of the Federal government by allowing them to vote on the issue of a balanced budget amendment. 

In 2010, the Florida legislature passed "Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2742" which placed on the November - 2010 general election ballot a non-binding referendum asking Florida voters if they would support a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution  

With almost 5 million votes cast, 72% of Floridians voted YES.

The issue passed in every Florida county  and gained overwhelming bipartisan support as more than two-thirds of the voters approved the idea in 64 of Florida's 67 counties.

By having the voters voice their "official" opinion on the issue of a balanced budget amendment, members of Congress will be forced to take a position on the issue. 

During the election campaign of 2012, every member of Congress should be asked this question:

If your district votes in favor of a balanced budget amendment, will you vote to propose such an amendment?

The following is model language for a nonbinding referendum regarding a balanced budget amendment to be placed on the general election ballot in 2012.

Model Bill or Resolution

An act relating to a nonbinding statewide advisory referendum; requiring that a question regarding a balanced federal budget be printed on the ballot and submitted to the voters in the 2012 general election; providing an effective date.

Whereas the federal government has borrowed excessively to fund its annual appropriations, placing a crushing debt upon the shoulders of the People of the United States and our nation in financial jeopardy, and,

Whereas, the issue of a Constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget has been discussed for more than forty years and shown to be favored by the People in public opinion polls, yet Congress has failed to propose such an amendment to the states for ratification,

Therefore, to provide direct guidance to the members of Congress from the state of ___________ which reflects the will of the people regarding the adoption of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States,

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State (Commonwealth) of _________:

Section 1. Nonbinding statewide advisory referendum. — At the 2012 general election, the following question shall be printed on the ballot and submitted to the voters:

BALANCING THE FEDERAL BUDGET

A NONBINDING REFERENDUM CALLING FOR AN AMENDMENT

TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

Should the United States Constitution be amended to require a balanced federal budget without raising taxes?

Yes ___  No ___

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

Article V - United States Constitution

...on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds
of the several States, (Congress) shall call a Convention
for proposing Amendments, which, ...
shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, when ratified
by ... three fourths of the several States.