Tennessee Sovereignty Resolution
19. Feb, 2009 
20 Comments
Legislators in Tennessee submitted House Joint Resolution 108 (HJR0108) on February 18th. While it’s non-binding, some of the language is quite well put. Here’s the intro:
A RESOLUTION to affirm Tennessee’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and to demand the federal government halt its practice of assuming powers and of imposing mandates upon the states for purposes not enumerated by the Constitution of the United States.
Halting the practice of assuming powers not enumerated is a great step. Rolling back all the previous unconstitutional legislation is also a must in the future.
Here’s the rest of the bill:
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 108
By Lynn
WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads as
follows: “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”; and
WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment defines the total scope of federal power as being that
specifically granted by the Constitution of the United States and no more; and
WHEREAS, the scope of power defined by the Tenth Amendment means that the
federal government was created by the states specifically to be an agent of the states; and
WHEREAS, today, in 2009, the states are demonstrably treated as agents of the federal
government; and
WHEREAS, many powers assumed by the federal government and federal mandates
are directly in violation of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has ruled in New York v. United States,
112 S. Ct. 2408 (1992), that Congress may not simply commandeer the legislative and
regulatory processes of the states; and
WHEREAS, a number of proposals from previous administrations and some now
pending from the present administration and from Congress may further violate the Constitution
of the United States; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING, that we hereby affirm Tennessee’s 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. We also demand the federal
government to halt and reverse its practice of assuming powers and of imposing mandates
upon the states for purposes not enumerated by the Constitution of the United States.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a committee of conference and correspondence be
appointed by the Speaker of the House and of the Senate, which shall have as its charge to
communicate the preceding resolution to the legislatures of the several states, to assure them
that this State continues in the same esteem of their friendship and to call for a joint working
group between the states to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government and
to seek repeal of the assumption of powers and the imposed mandates.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker and
the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of Tennessee’s
Congressional delegation.
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TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GREAT STATE OF TENESSEE:
You are to be congratulated in introducing a bill to govern under the Tenth Amendment. One needs to review the Liberty Amendment in existance for more than fifty years to find the correct words. This amendment has already been approved for a vote of ratification by nine states to date, and is still active in its role of retstoring the constitution to its full force and effectiveness. Before you go on, it would behoove you to review this documentation which is the parent copy of the Tenth Amendment. freeland@libertyamendment.com, http://www.libertyamendment.org
It took the great state of Tennessee to make a stand against our presently criminal Fedreal US Government in Washington DC. I think the next step is to put some of our Washington politicians in prison for breaking our Constitution Law and the Bill of Rights!!
Remember you work for us you criminals!!
God bless all of you and our country!!
Prison is undoubtedly the place where many of these people belong….
TO HE HONORABLE PHILIP BREDESEN, GOVERNOR OT THE GREAT STATE OF TENNESSEE:
Sir,
AS a lifelong citizen of The Great State of Tennessee, I hereby volunteer my services in the Tennessee Milital Army for defense against Federal Agression. As my fathers did in the 19th century Sir, I do now.
I stand ready for your orders.
James E. Martin,
Oak Ridge, TN
To Governor Bredesen, governor of the free, sovereign and independent state of Tennessee:
Thank you!
As a ninth generation Tennessean and East Tennessean I congratulate you for having the courage and convictions of our forefathers to recognize and sign House Joint Resolution 108(HJR0108.) In a long chain of abuses by our own Federal Government, let this be a shot across the bow and a warning of actions to come if said abuses do not cease and desist. We are, and have always been, a free, independent, and sovereign people. God placed us here, natives to the soil, to live freely, to worship freely, and to enjoy the fruits of our labors, thanking the Almighty for His grace and blessings for the same. My ancestors fought against the tyranny of an absent and overbearing king, let us fight again, against the overbearing and far reaching tentacles of this present government. The time has come to be counted.
Thank you again. David Crockett, Sam Houston, Alvin C. York and many notable natives of Tennessee thank you as well.
Crockett
At this point the Resolution is just rhetoric; I would like to see the Resolution in action. A good first step would be the construction of several Nuclear Power Plants. In the future, with or without a Cap and Trade bill, we will see our energy cost soar. The biggest obstacle to nuclear plants is the onerous Federal regulations. In addition to Nulcear Power I am sure there are a number of issues the Sovereignty Resolution could address today. At this point in time, this Resolution is just words to make the constituents feel good. Just words, just words.
Actions must follow words. “The tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of Patriots and Tyrants.” Thomas Jefferson. Unless we that believe in the Constitution are willing to respond to tyranny, we will continue as toads in a pot until our freedom is dead. If not free, what do we have to live for? I say let’s fight for our freedom and that of our children, and our children’s children!
Johnny: When saying you want to “fight” for our freedom – you mean that as a euphemism for getting active right? Violence is not effective – and it’s not an acceptable method here on this website.
The state of Tennessee, is standing up against the tyranny government and other state need the stand up against the tyranny that is before our country. American’s stand and defend your country and protect your family. States rights is the protection against unrighteous gov.
“…Legislators in Tennessee submitted House Joint Resolution 108 (HJR0108) on February 18th. While it’s non-binding…”
Do you think it might be coming up on an election??
Is it possible that Republican Party representatives are trying to hold onto their seats?
People, this is a NON-binding resolution; it has no teeth!
It means a total of squat! But boy it sure fires up you republican lemmings in the hopes that *finally* there’s a politician who will be on *our* side! But guess what, she ain’t on “our” side, she’s NOT on the side of the People, she’s on the side of the ruling class! She just wanst you to reelect her!
Once she gets back into office she’ll vote for more debt, more pay raises for ruling class members, higher taxes, bigger deficits, more debt.
Remember the Contract with America, starring Newt? Remember how they were going to serve just one term and clean up all the corruption and graft?
Hows that working for you??
People, I live in Tennessee. This is no longer the land of the free! We have the same scumbag ruling class you in the other 49 have. And they promise us the world and deliver a poke in the ribs with a sharp stick…IF we’re lucky! (Usually something else is delivered requiring us to grab our ankles…)