FL Lawmakers Challenge Judicial Branch’s Power

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In December of 2016, Florida State Representative Julio Gonzalez submitted a resolution to the local house of representatives, “urging Congress to propose to the states an amendment to the United States Constitution that allows Congress to deem a law that has been declared void by certain federal courts active and operational.” Florida state Senator Keith Perry filed an identical companion bill to the local senate. They urge the Florida legislatures to petition U.S. Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution that would empower Congress to overturn any U.S. Supreme Court or Appellate Court decision that voids a law or resolution.

If passed, the new law would require 60% of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as 60% of the U.S. Senate to vote for overturning a court’s decision within five years of its case1. For this to occur, both bodies of Florida’s bicameral legislature must first ratify Sen. Perry’s and Rep. Gonzalez’s resolutions and subsequently petition Congress; thereafter, Congress must pass a bill through the House and the Senate to make it law.