AN ACT
ENTITLED, An Act to limit the authority of delegates to a limited Article V convention to vote for
unauthorized amendments contrary to legislative instructions and to provide a civil fine for the
violation thereof.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. Terms used in this Act mean:
(1)

"Article V convention," convention for proposing amendments as expressly provided in
Article V of the United States of America Constitution; and

(2)

"Article V application," a joint resolution passed by the State Legislature of South Dakota
on the same subject or containing the same proposed amendment text as thirty-three other
sovereign states requiring Congress to call an Article V convention by setting the time and
place; and

(3)

"Delegate" or "alternate," any person selected by the State Legislature of South Dakota
or any other method provided by law to represent the State of South Dakota at an Article
V convention; and

(4)

"Legislative instructions," instructions given by the State Legislature to delegates and
alternates before and during an Article V convention; and

(5)

"Unauthorized amendment," any proposed amendment that is outside the subject matter
or permitted text.

Section 2. No delegate from South Dakota to an Article V convention has the authority to vote
to allow consideration of or vote to approve an unauthorized amendment for ratification to the
United States of America Constitution. Any delegate casting a vote to allow consideration or
approval of an unauthorized amendment shall be immediately recalled by the secretary of state and
replaced by an alternate chosen by the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council.

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Page 1

 Section 3. Every candidate for delegate or alternate from South Dakota to the Article V
convention shall take the following oath:
"I do solemnly swear or affirm that to the best of my abilities, I will, as a delegate or alternate
to an Article V convention, uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States of America and
the State of South Dakota. I will not vote to allow consideration of or to approve any unauthorized
amendment proposed for ratification to the United States of America Constitution."
Section 4. The secretary of state shall certify in writing to the Article V convention the selection
of delegates and alternates, the recall and replacement of any delegate or alternate, and the
nullification of unauthorized votes cast by any delegate of South Dakota.
Section 5. Any delegate who violates the oath contained in section 3 of this Act is subject to a
civil fine of not more than five thousand dollars to be levied by the secretary of state and deposited
in the state general fund.
Section 6. Nothing in this Act authorizes the State of South Dakota to participate in any Article
V convention in which each of the states does not possess one vote equal to the other states.

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 An Act to limit the authority of delegates to a limited Article V convention to vote for unauthorized
amendments contrary to legislative instructions and to provide a civil fine for the violation thereof.

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I certify that the attached Act
originated in the

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Received at this Executive Office
this _____ day of _____________ ,

HOUSE as Bill No. 1069

20____ at ____________ M.

____________________________
Chief Clerk
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By _________________________
for the Governor
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____________________________
Speaker of the House

The attached Act is hereby
approved this ________ day of
______________ , A.D., 20___

Attest:

____________________________
Chief Clerk

____________________________
President of the Senate
Attest:

____________________________
Governor
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STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA,
ss.
Office of the Secretary of State

Filed ____________ , 20___
at _________ o'clock __ M.

____________________________
Secretary of the Senate
____________________________
Secretary of State

House Bill No. 1069
File No. ____
Chapter No. ______

By _________________________
Asst. Secretary of State