HF 599

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                             A resolution 
  1.2             memorializing Congress to propose a constitutional 
  1.3             amendment to allow states to apportion one chamber of 
  1.4             their legislative bodies on the basis of area, not 
  1.5             population. 
  1.6      WHEREAS, geographic communities of interest are an 
  1.7   important factor to consider when making public policy; and 
  1.8      WHEREAS, until recent decades there was a tradition in 
  1.9   American history of respecting local geographic boundaries when 
  1.10  drawing electoral districts; and 
  1.11     WHEREAS, the drafters of the United States Constitution 
  1.12  based representation in the Senate on geographic areas rather 
  1.13  than population; and 
  1.14     WHEREAS, basing some legislative representation on 
  1.15  geographic areas rather than solely on population may give voice 
  1.16  to minority populations of rural areas; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  1.17     BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the state of Minnesota 
  1.18  that it urges the Congress of the United States to propose to 
  1.19  the people of the United States a constitutional amendment 
  1.20  allowing the states to apportion one chamber of their 
  1.21  legislative bodies on the basis of geographic area rather than 
  1.22  population. 
  1.23     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  1.24  State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  1.25  memorial and transmit them to the President and the Secretary of 
  2.1   the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the 
  2.2   United States House of Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators 
  2.3   and Representatives in Congress.