CHAPTER 111
HJR 25 – FINAL VERSION
2006 SESSION
01/03
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 25
A RESOLUTION encouraging the United States Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution concerning eminent domain.
This house joint resolution encourages the United States Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution concerning eminent domain.
06-2642
01/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six
A RESOLUTION encouraging the United States Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution concerning eminent domain.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
Whereas, the phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of property” in the Declaration of Independence was change to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” in order to encompass more fully the natural rights doctrine; and
Whereas, President Thomas Jefferson, drafter of The Declaration of Independence wrote, “We owe every …sacrifice to ourselves, to our federal brethren, and to the world at large to pursue with temper and perseverance the great experiment which shall prove that man is capable of living in a society, governing itself by laws self-imposed, and securing to its members the enjoyment of life, liberty, property, and peace; and further to show, that even when the government of its choice shall manifest a tendency to degeneracy, we are not at once to despair but that the will and watchfulness of its sounder parts will reform its aberrations, recall it to its original and legitimate principles, and restrain it within the rightful limits of self-government”; and
Whereas, President James Madison, drafter of the Constitution of the United States of America, and of the First Ten Amendments of the Constitution of the United States of America stated: “Government is instituted to protect property of every sort. . . . This being the end of government. . . . that is not a just government, nor is property secure under it, where the property which a man has. . . . is violated by arbitrary seizures of one class of citizens for the service of the rest”; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
That the general court of New Hampshire encourages the Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States stating that real property can only be taken by eminent domain for public use such as the construction of forts, government buildings, and roadways; and
That copies of this resolution be sent by the house clerk to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the New Hampshire congressional delegation.
Approved: May 9, 2006