The New Hampshire House passed a Tenth Amendment resolution on Wednesday.
HCR0019 affirms that the U.S. Constitution constrains the federal government to specific enumerated powers and that all other power remains with the state and the people.
I. Therefore, words meant by the instrument to be subsidiary only to the execution of limited powers, ought not to be so construed as themselves to give unlimited powers, nor a part to be so taken as to destroy the whole residue of that instrument; and
II. Therefore, whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force.
The resolution goes on to specifically summarize the scope of federal authority, citing specific articles and sections of the Constitution, highlighting their limits.
The bill passed the House 242-109 and will now move to the Senate for consideration.
New Hampshire Tenth Amendment Center outreach coordinator Dan Kanna says he thinks the resolution will likely pass the Senate.
“My wild guess is that it will pass, based on the fact that even moderate Republicans are on board with sovereignty, and the Democrats are simply there for decoration since they were spanked so vigorously this last election; they don’t even have enough numbers to flee the state,” Kanna said.
The Boston Herald reports that opponents of the resolution call it confusing and object to the fact that it “appears to reject most of Congress’ authority to regulate.”
“It appears that way because most of the regulating that the fed engages in is indeed unconstitutional,” Tenth Amendment Center executive director Michael Boldin said. “House passage of this resolution in New Hampshire is further proof people are waking up to the fact that the federal government has grown far beyond its intended scope, and it’s time to reign it in.”
Since 2009, 14 states have passed similar resolutions supporting original constitutional principles. These non-binding resolutions do not carry the force of law, but do make an important statement.
The New Hampshire resolution is part of a growing grassroots movement in state legislatures across the country as a protest to the intrusion of the federal government into state government affairs, and is an essential first step towards efforts to push back, or nullify, unconstitutional federal laws and regulations.
CLICK HERE to view the Tenth Amendment Center’s 10th amendment resolution tracking page
CLICK HERE to view the Tenth Amendment Center’s model 10th Amendment Resolution, which you can send to your representatives when urging them to introduce one in your state.