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 Geor-
gia, 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 regard-
ing 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 secu-
rity, protect freedom and justice, and promote the well- 
being 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 Constitu-
tion of the United States and elections; 
Whereas the Constitution of the United States was estab-
lished by the American people in order to establish jus-
tice, promote the general welfare, and secure the bless-
ings of liberty; 
Whereas the separation of powers between the legislative, ex-
ecutive, and judicial branches, and the checks and bal-
ances each branch has on the others’ legitimate powers, 
make up the main structural mechanism by which the 
Constitution limits power, assures responsible govern-
ment, 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 re-
spected 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 rep-
resentatives, 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 stand-
ards of accountability, transparency, and restraint estab-
lished 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 cur-
rently generate and enforce their own rules and regula-
tions 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 exer-
cised unaccountable lawmaking power; 
Whereas this extension of executive authority stands in viola-
tion of core principles and limitations of our representa-
tive government, which exists to serve the people, not the 
reverse; 
Whereas the judiciary has also exceeded its authority, dis-
regarding 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 ac-
countable 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) reaffirms its commitment to recovering all 
powers of the American people expressly delegated to 
the legislative branch in article I of the Constitution; 
(2) recognizes its unique duty to preserve and 
perpetuate representative government in the United 
States by recovering its exclusive duty to make law; 
(3) reaffirms its commitment to maintaining 
the separation of powers for the people through 
proper and thorough oversight of the executive 
branch and its departments and agencies; 
(4) declares its intent to reclaim legislative pow-
ers from executive branch departments and agencies, 
whether improperly claimed or previously granted, 
by which the American people are governed without 
their consent; 
(5) reaffirms Congress’ authority as delegated 
by the people to lay and collect taxes, pay debts, and 
provide for the common defense and general welfare 
of the United States; 
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(6) reaffirms its authority on behalf of the peo-
ple to make rules for the government and regulation 
of the armed forces; and 
(7) reaffirms the House of Representatives in-
tent to recover all powers and rights faithfully en-
trusted to it by the American people, and to restore 
the separation of powers between branches of the 
Federal Government and the associated balance and 
protections it affords, as expressed by the people in 
the Constitution of the United States, which is the 
binding manifestation of their will and consent. 
Æ 
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