By Lana Shadwick, May 15, 2015, Breitbart

A Texas House Joint Resolution passed Thursday would, if passed by the Texas State Senate, ask the U.S. Congress to call an Article 5 convention, which would propose Constitutional amendments to impose fiscal restraint on the federal government, reduce its powers and jurisdiction, and limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress.

Article 5 of the U.S. Constitution requires Congress to call a convention to propose constitutional amendments if the legislatures of two-thirds of the states apply.

Amendments adopted at an Article 5 convention would require ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

In 1977, the 65th Texas Legislature submitted HCR Number 31 to the federal government, asking Congress to prepare and submit to the several states an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring a federal balanced budget. In the alternative, it asked Congress to call a Constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing a balanced-budget amendment.