For too long our Federal Representatives and Senators have ignored the rules they were given, they have cast aside the Constitution for the United States of America and refused to hold themselves accountable to anyone; this is about to change!
New Hampshire has found an “Easter egg” that was left behind by one of the founders; to be used in a time such as this where the Federal government refuses to control its self. Taken from the Massachusetts State Constitution; and adopted by New Hampshire June 2, 1784.
Part first article 7 of the New Hampshire Constitution reads “The people of this state have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent state; and do, and forever hereafter shall, exercise and enjoy every power, jurisdiction, and right, pertaining thereto, which is not, or may not hereafter be, by them expressly delegated to the United States of America in congress assembled.”
The Massachusetts Constitution was written in 1779 by John Adams as “a party of one” during the time when the continental congress was adopting the Articles of Confederation; a full 8 years before the Constitution for the United States of America was written and I can only assume this was to be an insurance policy for uncertain times ahead that was never needed during his lifetime.
As part of the State Constitution it does not do much to reign in the Federal government because our Federal Representatives and Senators only swear an oath to the Federal Constitution; however, with a minor change using the power of the 10th amendment it transforms into a tool to regain control of an out of control Federal government. Thank you John Adams for showing us the way!
Nowhere in the Federal Constitution are the States prohibited from requiring their Federal Representatives and Senators to swear an oath to the State Constitution; therefore under the 10th amendment we have authority and the right to make them do so.
With our own version of the 10th amendment in article 7 we will have a mechanism to enforce the Federal Constitution on our own Federal Representatives and Senators from the State of New Hampshire; in addition it is only right they are prohibited from voting for law that violates the Constitution of their State of origin.
A bill pre-filed for the 2011 legislative session will accomplish this:
2011-H-0075-R | title: | Relating to oaths of civil officers. Providing that persons elected to the United States Senate and House of Representatives shall take the oath of civil officers prescribed by the constitution. |
Sponsors: | (Prime)Alfred Baldasaro, Jennifer Coffey, Daniel Itse |
cross-posted from the New Hampshire Tenth Amendment Center
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