H 4581 Joint Resolution, By J. Smith, Battle, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Davenport, 
J. Hines, M. Hines, Jennings, Limehouse, Littlejohn, W. McLeod, Rice, Simrill, 
Vaughn and Whipper
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE III OF THE
 CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL
 ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 COMMENCING ON THE SECOND TUESDAY IN FEBRUARY, PROVIDE FOR AN ORGANIZATIONAL
 SESSION FOR THE SENATE AS WELL AS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN
 EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS, DELETE CERTAIN OBSOLETE LANGUAGE, AND PROVIDE FOR
 ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSIONS.

   02/04/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-31
   02/04/98  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-31

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMENCING ON THE SECOND TUESDAY IN FEBRUARY, PROVIDE FOR AN ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION FOR THE SENATE AS WELL AS THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS, DELETE CERTAIN OBSOLETE LANGUAGE, AND PROVIDE FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL SESSIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 9. The annual session of the General Assembly heretofore elected, fixed by the Constitution of the year Eighteen hundred and Sixty-eight to convene on the fourth Tuesday of November, in the year Eighteen hundred and ninety-five, is hereby postponed, and the same shall be convened and held in the city of Columbia on the second Tuesday of January, in the year Eighteen hundred and Ninety-six. The first session of the General Assembly elected under this Constitution shall convene in Columbia on the second Tuesday in January, in the year Eighteen hundred and Ninety-seven, and thereafter annually at the same time and place. Provided, That the House of Representatives shall meet on the first Tuesday following the certification of the election of its members for not more than three days following the general election in even-numbered years for the purpose of organizing. Should the casualties of war or contagious disease render it unsafe to meet at the seat of government, then the Governor may, by proclamation, appoint a more secure and convenient place of meeting. Members of the General Assembly shall not receive any compensation for more than forty days of any one session. Provided, That this limitation shall not affect the first four sessions of the General Assembly under this Constitution. The annual session of the General Assembly shall convene at the State Capitol in the city of Columbia on the second Tuesday in February. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall meet on the first Tuesday following the certification of the election of their respective members for not more than three days following the general election in even-numbered years for the purpose of organizing and elections. Officers of the General Assembly, including the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and committee chairmen must be elected during the organizational session. Should the casualties of war or contagious disease render it unsafe to meet at the seat of government, then the Governor may, by proclamation, appoint a more secure and convenient place of meeting. Members of the General Assembly shall not receive any compensation for more than forty days of any one session."

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballots:

"Shall Section 9, Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to provide for annual sessions of the General Assembly commencing on the second Tuesday in February, provide for an organizational session for the Senate as well as the House of Representatives in even-numbered years, delete obsolete language, and provide for election of officers of the General Assembly at the organizational sessions?

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'."