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Committee to Protect the Constitution records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-0149

Scope and Content

The collection (1975-1980, undated) contains background papers, correspondence, news clippings, media materials (including a list of the Committee’s radio spots), speeches given by various Committee members, surveys, articles and videotapes. There are several articles and papers written by members of the committee about the Stanley amendment. Other organization materials include informational pamphlets, brochures, and advertisements.

Dates

  • 1975-1980, undated

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Open for research.

Use/Re-use Restrictions

Consult Special Collections and University Archives

Biography/Profile

The Committee to Protect the Constitution was formed in Iowa as a non-partisan organization in August 1980. Its goal was to defeat a November 4, 1980 ballot proposal to hold a convention to revise the Iowa Constitution in order to add the Stanley amendment which would limit income tax increases. The Committee opposed the Stanley amendment, which they claimed was more extreme than other tax limitation laws. Dave Stanley, the amendment's creator, proposed a strict limitation on the increase of taxes (ninety percent of the rate of personal income increases). The Committee argued that not allowing government income to rise as quickly as personal income was unnecessary They considered the proposed amendment unnecessary because they believed the existing constitution sufficient and they were concerned that an additional amendment also added the risk that provisions would be added to the constitution which would have no place in it. Although the purpose of the proposed convention was to place limits on taxation and government spending, the Committee did not have an official position on this matter. During its campaign, the Committee worked with other Iowa organizations such as the Iowa Taxpayer’s Association, Iowans for Tax Relief, and the League of Women Voters.

Extent

2.1 Linear Feet (5 document boxes)

Additional Description

Processing Information

Released on 2018-11-01.

Subjects

Collecting Areas

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
MS-0149. Committee to Protect the Constitution records, 1975-1980, undated
Date
December 12, 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Physical Storage Information

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
403 Parks Library
701 Morrill Road
Iowa State University
Ames Iowa 50011-2102 United States
(515) 294-6672