Thread: Oklahoma Asserts State Sovereignty

Oklahoma House Votes 83 to 13 to Restore Sovereignty Under the 10th Amendment

Over All Powers Not Granted to the Federal Government

2 good videos on this web page at the link provided below

Written by Larry Greenley
Thursday, 19 February 2009 21:35
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On Wednesday the Oklahoma House of Representatives became the first state legislative body this year to pass a resolution affirming its "sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States." This resolution, HJR1003, was passed by a very large margin, 83 to 13 on February 18. At least another 20 state legislatures are considering similar resolutions. [Update, February 23, 2009: Click here for "The Tenth Amendment Movement: Status by State, 2009," to see which states have already introduced Tenth Amendment resolutions this year along with links to the full-text of each resolution.]

The official summary of HJR1003 reads as follows: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2009- ... 03_int.rtf

A Joint Resolution claiming sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over certain powers; serving notice to the federal government to cease and desist certain mandates; providing that certain federal legislation be prohibited or repealed; and directing distribution.

After nine "Whereas" clauses, the resolution concludes with:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the State of Oklahoma hereby claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States....

I've taken pains to quote from HJR1003's official summary and concluding passage to demonstrate that referring to passage of this resolution (and consideration of similar resolutions by another 20 or so states) as being part of a "State Sovereignty Movement" is quite misleading. The expression "state sovereignty movement" implies that this is a movement among the states to secede from the union and become independent nation-states. However, the texts of Oklahoma's HJR1003 and many other similar resolutions under consideration in other states do not confirm this secessionist implication.

Here's the text of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States:

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

It is clear from reading the Ninth and Tenth Amendments and the texts of Oklahoma's and the other states' resolutions that are based on the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, that the intent is simply to restore the balance of powers between the states and the federal government as envisioned by our Founding Fathers when they wrote the Constitution.

This Tenth Amendment Movement, as exemplified by Oklahoma and the consideration of similar resolutions by another 20 or more states, is certainly a most welcome development. As the federal government is rapidly consolidating its usurpation of the powers reserved to the states by the Constitution, we can readily appreciate the benefit of restoring state sovereignty over those powers.

Here's an interesting video of an interview between Glenn Beck and New Hampshire representative Daniel Itse, cosponsor of New Hampshire's HCR6, "A RESOLUTION affirming States’ rights based on Jeffersonian principles":

New Hampshire's HCR6 resolution makes great reading because it's based on Thomas Jefferson's Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, which were an eloquent affirmation of states' rights under the Constitution. This is the document where Jefferson made his famous statement, "In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."

Beginning with its founding meeting in 1958, the John Birch Society has been very concerned about the loss of states' rights. At that meeting founder Robert Welch provided a list of ten dangerous trends in our nation. Number seven on this list was:

Far more centralization of power in Washington, and the practical elimination of our state lines. There is a many-faceted drive at work to have our state lines eventually mean no more within the nation than our county lines do now within the states. (The Blue Book of the John Birch Society, Robert Welch, 1959)

Here's a fascinating nine-minute video of excerpts from two speeches given by Robert Welch in 1974. In the first speech you'll hear him quote from his 1958 speech about the ten dangeous trends for the U.S. mentioned above. In the second speech you'll hear his platform for what should be done to preserve freedom in our nation. Listening to this speech over 30 years later, it is amazing just how similar Robert Welch's prescription for America in 1974 is to Ron Paul's campaign platform in 2008.

May this year's Tenth Amendment Movement mark the beginning of the successful restoration of states' rights under the Constitution as envisioned by the Founding Fathers!

http://www.jbs.org/index.php/us-constitution-blog/4539

I can read and some how feel refreshed every time .
The states bear the ultimate responsibility .
As usual Excellent Post AirborneSapper7 .