HB379 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ed Henry

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Article V constitutional convention, compact to set convention to require Congress to balance the budget, adopted

Summary

This bill would adopt the Compact for a Balanced Budget to push for an Article V constitutional convention that would consider a Balanced Budget Amendment for Congress.

What This Bill Does

It adopts a multistate compact and creates a framework to recruit and coordinate states, appoint a Compact Commission, and manage the process for requesting an Article V convention. It sets up how states join or leave, how delegates are chosen and bound, and how the convention would be conducted, limited to proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment. It also outlines how the amendment would be transmitted to Congress for possible ratification, and how the compact would be enforced and funded, with termination rules if the amendment is not ratified within seven years.

Who It Affects

• Alabama government and residents: Alabama would enact identical compact legislation, contribute funding, appoint Alabama's three delegates (the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate or their designees), and be bound by the compact's rules and procedures.
• Congress and other states: Congress would be petitioned to call the convention, and other states would need to join the compact and participate under the same rules to pursue a Balanced Budget Amendment via Article V.

Key Provisions

• Adopts the Compact for a Balanced Budget to facilitate an Article V convention limited to proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment for the United States Constitution.
• Creates a Compact Commission, defines membership and withdrawal rules, and establishes funding and administrative structure for the compact.
• Delegates: each Member State has three delegates (Governor, Speaker, and Senate President or their designees); delegates must take an oath and act only within the bounds of the compact and the Balanced Budget Amendment; actions are limited to BBA-related purposes.
• Convention rules: the agenda is limited to introducing, debating, voting on, and ratifying the Balanced Budget Amendment; voting requires a majority of participating states; records are public, with specific transparency requirements; no other constitutional amendments may be proposed at the convention.
• Transmission and ratification: if the Convention approves the BBA, certified copies are sent to Congress to refer for ratification by three-fourths of the states; only the Balanced Budget Amendment may be transmitted.
• Enforcement and venue: enforcement tools for the compact are available to member states; the convention and related actions have designated venue provisions (including potential court actions in Texas); ultra vires violations are void ab initio.
• Termination and continuation: the compact terminates when the Balanced Budget Amendment is ratified; if not ratified within seven years, the commission dissolves and a continuing state-level resolution can pursue a BBA.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

U. S. Constitution