Application For A Convention Of The States Under Article V Of The Constitution Of The United States.
Summary
SCR 114 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution that formally asks Congress to call a convention of the states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution states that Delaware seeks a convention limited to proposing amendments addressing three broad goals: imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and imposing term limits on federal officials and members of Congress. It also declares that the application should be treated as a continuing application until enough states join on the same subject.
The resolution is largely declaratory rather than regulatory: it does not change Delaware statutes, create a new state program, or appropriate funds. Instead, it expresses Delaware’s position on federal constitutional reform and directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit the application to federal officials and to the legislatures of other states. Its practical effect is to add Delaware to the list of states seeking an Article V convention on these specified topics.
Impact
SCR 114 does not amend Delaware’s code or alter state agency authority; its legal effect is to make Delaware’s formal application for an Article V convention and to communicate that application to Congress and other states. The resolution is intended to support a multi-state effort to trigger a convention limited to fiscal restraints, federal power limits, and term limits, and it frames the application as continuing until the constitutional threshold is met. Any broader impact would depend on whether enough states adopt similar applications and whether Congress calls a convention.
Sentiment
The bill’s text reflects strong support for limiting federal power and spending, and the sponsors present the resolution as a defense of state sovereignty and liberty. The available vote history suggests the measure was controversial or at least closely divided: the Senate third reading vote was 7 yeas and 7 nays, indicating no clear consensus. No committee transcript is available, so the recorded sentiment is inferred primarily from the resolution’s language and the tied vote.
Contention
The main points of contention are the use of an Article V convention and the scope of the proposed amendments. Supporters view the resolution as a necessary tool to restrain federal spending, mandates, and perceived overreach, while opponents are likely concerned about the risks of opening a constitutional convention and the uncertainty of what such a process could produce. The tied Senate vote indicates significant disagreement, especially over whether this is an appropriate or safe method for pursuing constitutional change.