SF 3254

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/04/2025 09:30 a.m.

A joint resolution
applying to Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention to propose an
amendment addressing campaign finance reform.

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution, Article V, places substantial authority and
responsibility upon the legislatures of the several states to ensure that the Federal Government and
each of the branches remain within enumerated powers and remain protective of the rights of the
people; and

WHEREAS, a variety of important movements have arisen within the legislatures of the
several states to address a wide variety of concerns that may be appropriately addressed within the
context of Article V of the United States Constitution; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of Minnesota wishes to address the various approaches in a
bipartisan manner; and

WHEREAS, an agreement to call for a convention under Article V of the United States
Constitution does not commit the Legislature of Minnesota to approve any proposal that may arise
from any subsequent convention; rather, the Legislature seeks to engage in a formal process with
other states to give full and authoritative consideration to various proposals consistent with the
topics expressed by this resolution; and

WHEREAS, under the United States Constitution, Article V, the Congress of the United
States, whenever two-thirds of both houses deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to the
United States Constitution or, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several
states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments that, in either case, shall be valid to all
intents and purposes as part of the United States Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other
mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED, that if the Congress of the United States does not by December 31, 2026,
propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to regulate the role of money in elections
and governance to ensure transparency, prevent corruption, and protect against buying access to
or influence over representatives, the Legislature of Minnesota applies to the Congress of the United
States, under the provisions of Article V of the United States Constitution, to call a convention of
the states limited to proposing an amendment to the United States Constitution to regulate the role
of money in elections and governance to ensure transparency, prevent corruption, and protect against
buying access to or influence over representatives.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this application is intended to address the same subject
matter as applications from other states under the provisions of Article V of the United States
Constitution to call a convention to regulate the role of money in elections and governance to ensure
transparency, prevent corruption, and protect against buying access to or influence over
representatives; and this application must be aggregated with the same for the purpose of attaining
the two-thirds of states necessary to require Congress to call a limited convention on this subject,
but may not be aggregated with any other applications on any other subject.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this application constitutes a continuing application in
accordance with Article V of the United States Constitution until the legislatures of at least two-thirds
of the several states have made applications on the same subject.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is directed
to prepare copies of this resolution and transmit them to the President and the Secretary of the
United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the
presiding officers of both houses of the legislatures of the other states of the Union, and to
Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.