MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Constitution

By: Representative Henderson (9th)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 273, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO DELETE THE PROVISIONS THAT AUTHORIZE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION TO BE PROPOSED BY INITIATIVE OF THE PEOPLE AND WHICH SET FORTH THE PROCEDURE FOR THE EXERCISE OF THE POWER OF INITIATIVE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

Amend Section 273, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

"Section 273. (1) Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Legislature * * *.

(2) Whenever two-thirds (2/3) of each house of the Legislature, which two-thirds (2/3) shall consist of not less than a majority of the members elected to each house, shall deem any change, alteration or amendment necessary to this Constitution, such proposed amendment, change or alteration shall be read and passed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of each house, as herein provided; public notice shall then be given by the Secretary of State at least thirty (30) days preceding an election, at which the qualified electors shall vote directly for or against such change, alteration or amendment, and if more than one (1) amendment shall be submitted at one (1) time, they shall be submitted in such manner and form that the people may vote for or against each amendment separately; and, notwithstanding the division of the Constitution into sections, the Legislature may provide in its resolution for one or more amendments pertaining and relating to the same subject or subject matter, and may provide for one or more amendments to an article of the Constitution pertaining and relating to the same subject or subject matter, which may be included in and voted on as one (1) amendment; and if it shall appear that a majority of the qualified electors voting directly for or against the same shall have voted for the proposed change, alteration or amendment, then it shall be inserted as a part of the Constitution by proclamation of the Secretary of State certifying that it received the majority vote required by the Constitution; and the resolution may fix the date and direct the calling of elections for the purposes hereof."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this proposed amendment 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.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment deletes those provisions of the Constitution that authorize amendments to the Constitution to be proposed by initiative of the people."