Mississippi Senate Bill SC511

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22
• Failed: 4/5/22

Caption

Article V Constitutional Convention; provide for selection and authority of commissioners.

Impact

The resolution mandates that Mississippi will have five commissioners and three alternates for any forthcoming convention, with eligibility criteria that include residency requirements and restrictions on certain public officials. The selection of these commissioners is to be performed by a majority vote from both houses of the Mississippi Legislature, ensuring a democratic process. Importantly, it maintains the integrity of existing ethics rules and prohibits certain officials from serving, thus aiming for a diverse and fair representation.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 511 (SC511) establishes procedures for selecting commissioners from the State of Mississippi to attend an Article V Convention, which is called to propose amendments to the United States Constitution. According to Article V, Congress must convene such a convention upon application from two-thirds of the state legislatures. SC511 outlines how Mississippi will fulfill this constitutional requirement and the roles of elected officials in this process, ensuring representation and legislative accountability.

Contention

SC511 emphasizes that commissioners must adhere to instructions issued by the Legislature, which can include stipulations regarding voting rules at the convention. Consequently, any vote cast outside of these prescribed guidelines is deemed unauthorized and invalid. This strict oversight intended to maintain fidelity to the state's legislative directives has implications for how free and flexible commissioner actions can be at the convention, potentially leading to debates about local versus federal authority in the amendment process.