Current Status Bill Number:69 Type of Legislation:Joint Resolution JR Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19970114 Primary Sponsor:Passailaigue All Sponsors:Passailaigue Drafted Document Number:s-res\passaila\res1206.elp Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 11 SJ Subject:General Assembly, terms; serving twelve consecutive years, seat then deemed vacant; constitutional amendment
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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Senate 19970114 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ
referred to Committee
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PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 7, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT SERVE MORE THAN TWELVE YEARS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, EITHER AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE, OR A COMBINATION THEREOF; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS SERVED TWELVE YEARS ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE RATIFICATION OF THIS PROVISION, HIS OFFICE IS DEEMED VACANT AND A SPECIAL ELECTION MUST BE HELD AS PROVIDED BY LAW; TO PROVIDE THAT IF A PERSON IS ELECTED FOR A TERM THAT, IF SERVED TO EXPIRATION, WOULD EXCEED TWELVE YEARS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AFTER THE TWELFTH YEAR, THE OFFICE IS DEEMED VACANT AND A SPECIAL ELECTION MUST BE HELD AS PROVIDED BY LAW; AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO HAS SERVED TWELVE YEARS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, EITHER AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE, OR A COMBINATION THEREOF, MAY NOT SERVE IN A STATEWIDE OFFICE THAT THIS CONSTITUTION REQUIRES TO BE ELECTED.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 7, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding at the end:
"A person may not serve more than twelve years in the General Assembly, either as a member of the House of Representatives or as a member of the Senate, or a combination thereof. If a member of the General Assembly has served twelve years on the effective date of the ratification of this provision, his office is deemed vacant and a special election must be held as provided by law. A person who has served twelve years in the General Assembly, either as a member of the House of Representatives or as a member of the Senate, or a combination thereof, may not serve in a statewide office that this Constitution requires to be elected. If a person is elected for a term that, if served to expiration, would exceed twelve years, after the twelfth year, the office is deemed vacant and a special election must be held as provided by law."
SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the 1998 general election. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:
"Must Section 7, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide that a person may not serve more than twelve years in the General Assembly, either as a member of the House of Representatives or as a member of the Senate, or a combination thereof; to provide that if a member of the General Assembly has served twelve years on the effective date of the ratification of this provision, his office is deemed vacant and a special election must be held; to provide that a person who has served twelve years in the General Assembly, either as a member of the House of Representatives or as a member of the Senate, or a combination thereof, may not serve in a statewide office that this Constitution requires to be elected; and to provide that if a person is elected for a term that, if served to expiration, would exceed twelve years in the General Assembly, after the twelfth year, the office is deemed vacant and a special election must be held?
Yes []
No []
Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."