16HCDResolutions2012

A REQUEST THAT THE HAWAII LEGISLATURE BE THE FIRST IN THE NATION TO CALL FOR AN

ARTICLE V NATIONAL CONVENTION

Whereas, our system of government at all levels is broken particularly at the National Level; and

Whereas, it is broken because the Representatives of the People are more and more dependent upon

and responsive to large moneyed interests, rather than upon the average voter as the constitution

intended; and

Whereas, the average voter has less influence because the vote counts much less than large

contributions to campaign funds; and

Whereas, big money contributions have become the route to access to the people's representatives

rather than the vote; and

Whereas, this situation has served both to give the appearance of corruption in government and is indeed

a form of corruption; and

Whereas, the people's confidence in the government's ability to govern as the Constitution intended has

been radically reduce as a result; and

Whereas, it has become clear that duly elected representatives of the people are unwilling or unable to

rectify this situation and act to restore confidence in the government by limiting the influence of big money

because of their dependence upon it; and

Whereas, this state of affairs has increasingly become a major feature of the structure of government at

all levels; and

Whereas: it is also increasingly clear that the only way the form of government embodied in the US

Constitution will be spared this fate and the peoples freedom's and rights will be restored is for the people

to rise up and do something about it by means of the prerogatives provided in Article V of the constitution

namely the calling of an Article V convention; and

Whereas, this must be done through the process of 35 states calling for said convention; now, therefore,

be it

Resolved, That that the Democratic Party of Hawaii calls on The State of Hawaii through its legislature to

call for such a convention and urge other states to do the same; and be it

Resolved, That the call be as follows:

The State of Hawaii, speaking through its legislature, pursuant to Article V of the Constitution,

hereby petitions the United States Congress to call a convention for the purpose of proposing

Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Furthermore, The State of Hawaii would propose that convention consider amendments to

publicly fund election campaigns and to restrict all campaign contributions to any candidate be

$100 or less.

Furthermore, Hawaii requests that, its proposal notwithstanding, Congress restrict the agenda of

the convention to considering only those matters enumerated by at least 40% of the states calling

for the convention.

And finally, The State of Hawaii requests that Congress exclude from eligibility as delegates to

the convention any current Member of Congress; and be it

Resolved, That this resolution shall be sent to all Hawaii State Legislators and to Governor Neal

Abercrombie.