MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Representative Janus

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING TO AMEND THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, BY CREATING A NEW SECTION 3A TO PROCLAIM THE BOUNDARIES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; BY AMENDING SECTION 4 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY CHANGE IN THE STATE BOUNDARIES MUST BE APPROVED BY A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendments to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 are proposed to the qualified electors of the state:

I.

Amend the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, by creating a new Section 3A to read as follows:

"Section 3A. The Sovereign State of Mississippi shall consist of all territory included within the boundaries described in the act of Congress of March 1, 1817, together with all territory ceded to the State of Mississippi by subsequent acts of Congress or by compacts or agreements with other states."

II.

Amend Section 4, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 4. The sovereign State of Mississippi, acting through constitutional laws, shall have power to consent to the acquisition of additional territory by this state, and to enter into compacts and agreements concerning sovereign state boundaries; however, no compact or agreement may be made that will alter the sovereign state boundaries without first submitting it to the people for a vote."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That these proposed amendments shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 1999, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution and by general law, with the amendments in this resolution being voted on as one (1) amendment since the proposed amendments pertain to one (1) subject.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment provides that the boundaries of the State of Mississippi shall include that territory described by act of Congress on March 1, 1817, together with all territory ceded to the state by subsequent Acts of Congress or by compacts with other states. The amendment also amends another section of the Constitution to provide that any change in the state boundaries must be approved by a vote of the people."