2012 Regular Session
To: Constitution
By: Representative Zuber
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 59, MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890, TO REVISE THE PROVISION ALLOWING FOR A BILL TO BE READ IN FULL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE VOTE ON ITS FINAL PASSAGE; TO CHANGE THE PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW BEFORE THE BILL IS READ FROM A REQUIREMENT THAT ANY ONE MEMBER MAY DEMAND THAT THE BILL BE READ, TO A REQUIREMENT THAT A MOTION BE ADOPTED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE PRESENT AND VOTING BEFORE THE BILL IS READ; 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 59, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:
"Section 59. Bills may originate in either house, and be amended or rejected in the other, and every bill shall be read by its title on three (3) different days in each house, unless two-thirds (2/3) of the house where the same is pending shall dispense with the rules; and every bill shall be read in full immediately before the vote on its final passage upon motion of any member adopted by a majority vote of the members of the house present and voting; and every bill, having passed both houses, shall be signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the legislative session."
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 2012, 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 revises the provision allowing a legislative bill to be read in full immediately before the vote on its final passage, by requiring that a motion be adopted by a majority vote of the members of the house present and voting before the bill is read."
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.