CONNECTICUT GRASSROOTS ALLIANCE

Contact: Attorney Deborah G. Stevenson, (860) 354-3590

TENTH AMENDMENT PROPOSALS

Version A is a resolution that urges Congress to exercise only those powers delegated to the United States.

Version A:

RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO ABIDE BY THE TENTH AMENDMENT:

Resolved by this Assembly:

   That the Connecticut  General  Assembly calls on the Congress

and  the  President   of  the  United  States  to  abide by the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; specifically:

THAT the people, and by their authority, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut retain sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States;

THAT on numerous occasions, the federal government has gone beyond the scope of their enumerated powers, in effect violating the Constitution, and such violations must cease; and further

RESOLVED:  THAT the federal government must, in the future, exercise only those powers delegated to the United States by the Constitution, and that which is necessary and proper in advancing those enumerated powers, with all other power, authority and sovereignty being reserved to the people.

Version B is a bill that declares that the State of Connecticut retains sovereignty over all powers and duties not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, and sets up a method for the legislature to review federal laws to determine their legality, and directs the legislature to tell Congress of the legislature’s findings.

Version B:

The proposal should provide the following language:

NEW Section 1. Pursuant to the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, the State of Connecticut and its General Assembly retain sovereignty over all powers and duties not enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States . 

Section 2.  Upon the written request of any member of the General Assembly, the committee having cognizance over matters pertaining to government administration and elections shall review any statute, regulation or directive promulgated by any branch of the federal government to ensure that the federal government has the authority to issue such statute, regulation or directive.  Following such review, the committee shall recommend to the General Assembly its determination as to the legality of the statute, regulation or directive.

Section 3.  Upon the recommendation of the government administration and elections committee, the general assembly shall vote to memorialize Congress as to the findings of the committee regarding the legality of the statute, regulation or directive.  

Version C is a bill that is identical to version B but omits any directive to Congress.

Version C:

NEW Section 1. Pursuant to the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, the State of Connecticut and its General Assembly retain sovereignty over all powers and duties not enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States . 

Section 2.  Upon the written request of any member of the General Assembly, the committee having cognizance over matters pertaining to government administration and elections shall review any statute, regulation or directive promulgated by any branch of the federal government to ensure that the federal government has the authority to issue such statute, regulation or directive.  Following such review, the committee shall recommend to the General Assembly its determination as to the legality of the statute, regulation or directive.