IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 613 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 

restoration of authority of the American people and the separation of powers. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 11, 2016 

Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS (for herself, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. MESSER, 

Mr. ROSKAM, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mrs. ELLMERS of North 

Carolina, Mr. HARRIS, Mr. WENSTRUP, Mr. BARR, Mr. GRAVES of Georgia, Mr. ROSS, Mr. STEWART, Mrs. HARTZLER, Mr. ROTHFUS, Mr. 

PALMER, Mr. BUCK, Mr. HILL, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mr. 

NEWHOUSE, Mr. ZINKE, Mr. HARDY, Mr. LAHOOD, and Mr. MULLIN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the restoration of authority of the American people 

and the separation of powers. 

Whereas the solemn purpose of the Federal Government of 

the United States is to ensure national peace and security, protect freedom and justice, and promote the wellbeing of the American people; 

Whereas in order to secure people’s rights of life, liberty, and 

the pursuit of happiness, the American people establish 

their government to represent their will and rights; 


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Whereas the Federal Government derives all of its authority 

solely from the people, who exercise and affirm their 

rights through their elected representatives; 

Whereas a government for the people and by the people is 

only realized through representative government that 

guarantees the people’s sovereign authority; 

Whereas all legitimate Federal power of the United States is 

delegated by the American people through the Constitution of the United States and elections; 

Whereas the Constitution of the United States was established by the American people in order to establish justice, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty; 

Whereas the separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and the checks and balances each branch has on the others’ legitimate powers, 

make up the main structural mechanism by which the 

Constitution limits power, assures responsible government, and prevents tyranny; 

Whereas article I, section 1 of the Constitution, expressly 

states that ‘‘All legislative Powers herein granted shall be 

vested in a Congress of the United States’’; 

Whereas Congress is also responsible for conducting thorough 

oversight of all Federal agencies; 

Whereas our representative government can only serve this 

role on behalf of the American people when constitutional 

checks and balances to protect people’s power are respected by their government; 

Whereas the value of representation most clearly manifests 

itself when the American people are able to express their 


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imagination, ambitions, and conscience through their representatives, who they hold directly accountable; 

Whereas our representative government is intended, above all, 

to provide recourse to United States citizens through the 

electoral process; 

Whereas when government fails to meet the reasonable standards of accountability, transparency, and restraint established in the Constitution, the rights of the American 

people are infringed; 

Whereas a representative government fails the people when it 

creates and implements mandates without the input and 

approval of the people’s representatives; 

Whereas executive branch departments and agencies currently generate and enforce their own rules and regulations with the force of law upon the people without the 

approval of their representatives; 

Whereas there are few available forms of sufficient recourse 

for the people in response to these overreaches; 

Whereas there are increasing incidents of executive overreach 

being made by departments and agencies that have exercised unaccountable lawmaking power; 

Whereas this extension of executive authority stands in violation of core principles and limitations of our representative government, which exists to serve the people, not the 

reverse; 

Whereas the judiciary has also exceeded its authority, disregarding the limitation on its own use of power and the 

duly enacted statutes of Congress; 


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Whereas our representative government can only be restored 

when the people regain the authority to hold directly accountable those in government who make laws; and 

Whereas each Member of Congress has given the solemn oath 

to support and defend the Constitution of the United 

States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms its commitment to recovering all 

3 powers of the American people expressly delegated to 

4 the legislative branch in article I of the Constitution; 

5 (2) recognizes its unique duty to preserve and 

6 perpetuate representative government in the United 

7 States by recovering its exclusive duty to make law; 

8 (3) reaffirms its commitment to maintaining 

9 the separation of powers for the people through 

10 proper and thorough oversight of the executive 

11 branch and its departments and agencies; 

12 (4) declares its intent to reclaim legislative pow13 ers from executive branch departments and agencies, 

14 whether improperly claimed or previously granted, 

15 by which the American people are governed without 

16 their consent; 

17 (5) reaffirms Congress’ authority as delegated 

18 by the people to lay and collect taxes, pay debts, and 

19 provide for the common defense and general welfare 

20 of the United States; 


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1 (6) reaffirms its authority on behalf of the peo2 ple to make rules for the government and regulation 

3 of the armed forces; and 

4 (7) reaffirms the House of Representatives in5 tent to recover all powers and rights faithfully en6 trusted to it by the American people, and to restore 

7 the separation of powers between branches of the 

8 Federal Government and the associated balance and 

9 protections it affords, as expressed by the people in 

10 the Constitution of the United States, which is the 

11 binding manifestation of their will and consent. 

Æ 


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