MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2019 Regular Session

To: Rules; Constitution

By: Senator(s) Bryan

Senate Concurrent Resolution 562

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 34, 35, 116, 128, 133 AND 134 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890 TO CHANGE THE TERMS OF OFFICE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THE STATE TREASURER AND THE STATE AUDITOR FROM FOUR YEARS TO ONE YEAR; 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 34, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

     Section 34.  The House of Representatives shall consist of members chosen * * *every four years annually by the qualified electors of the several counties and representative districts.

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

     Section 35.  The Senate shall consist of members chosen * * *every four years annually by the qualified electors of the several districts.

     Amend Section 116, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

     Section 116.  The chief executive power of this state shall be vested in a Governor, who shall hold his office for * * *four (4) years one (1) year and be elected annually.  Any person elected to the Office of Governor shall be eligible to succeed himself in office.  However, no person shall be elected to the Office of Governor more than twice * * * and no person who has held the office of Governor or has acted as Governor for more than two (2) years of a term to which another person was elected shall be elected to the office of Governor more than once.

     Amend Section 128, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

     Section 128.  There shall be a Lieutenant Governor who shall be elected * * * at—the same time, in the same manner, and for the same term annually, and who shall possess the same qualifications as required of the Governor.  Any person elected to the Office of Lieutenant Governor shall be eligible to succeed himself in office, but no person who has been elected to the Office of Lieutenant Governor for two (2) successive terms shall be eligible to hold that office until one (1) term has intervened.

     Amend Section 133, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

     Section 133.  There shall be a Secretary of State, who shall be elected * * *as herein provided annually.  He shall be at least twenty-five (25) years of age, a citizen of the state five (5) years next preceding the day of his election, and he shall continue in office during the term of * * *four years one (1) year, and shall be keeper of the capitol; he shall keep a correct register of all official acts and proceedings of the Governor; and shall, when required, lay the same, and all papers, minutes, and vouchers relative thereto, before the Legislature, and he shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by law.  He shall receive such compensation as shall be prescribed.

     Amend Section 134, Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:

     Section 134.  A State Treasurer and an Auditor of Public Accounts shall be elected * * *as herein provided annually, who shall hold their office for the term of * * * four (4) years one (1) year and shall possess the same qualifications as required for the Secretary of State.  They shall receive such compensation as may be provided by law.

     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 2019, 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 changes the terms of office of the members of the Legislature, the Governor and the constitutional officers of the Executive Branch of Mississippi government from four (4) to one (1) year."