MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Representative Rotenberry

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 34 AND SECTION 35, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO LIMIT THE TERMS OF OFFICE FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO THREE SUCCESSIVE TERMS; 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 Section 34, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 34. The House of Representatives shall consist of members chosen every four (4) years by the qualified electors of the several counties and representative districts. Any person elected to the House of Representatives shall be eligible to succeed himself in office, but a person who has been elected to the House of Representatives for three (3) successive terms after the ratification of this amendment, shall not be eligible to hold that office until four (4) years have intervened."

II.

Amend Section 35, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 35. The Senate shall consist of members chosen every four (4) years by the qualified electors of the several districts. Any person elected to the Senate shall be eligible to succeed himself in office, but a person who has been elected to the Senate for three (3) successive terms, after the ratification of this amendment, shall not be eligible to hold that office until four (4) years have intervened."

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 limits the terms of office for members of the House of Representatives and members of the Senate to three (3) successive terms."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall submit this resolution, immediately upon adoption by the Legislature, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.