H 3995 Joint Resolution, By Quinn
 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to Article III of the Constitution
 of South Carolina, 1895, relating to the Legislative Department by adding
 Section 15A, so as to require that a Bill or Joint Resolution of the General
 Assembly imposing or increasing a tax must receive the approval of two-thirds
 of the membership of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the
 membership of the Senate; and by proposing an amendment to Section 21, Article
 IV, relating to the authority of the Governor to veto a Bill or Joint
 Resolution, so as to increase from two-thirds to three-fourths the number of
 votes required to override his veto in each House if the Bill or Joint
 Resolution increases taxes.

   04/14/93  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-24
   04/14/93  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-24

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT BY ADDING SECTION 15A, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT A BILL OR JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IMPOSING OR INCREASING A TAX MUST RECEIVE THE APPROVAL OF TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND TWO-THIRDS OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SENATE; AND BY PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 21, ARTICLE IV, RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR TO VETO A BILL OR JOINT RESOLUTION, SO AS TO INCREASE FROM TWO-THIRDS TO THREE-FOURTHS THE NUMBER OF VOTES REQUIRED TO OVERRIDE HIS VETO IN EACH HOUSE IF THE BILL OR JOINT RESOLUTION INCREASES TAXES.

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

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 15A. Any bill or joint resolution imposing or increasing a tax may not become law unless the bill or joint resolution receives the approval of two-thirds of the membership of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the membership of the Senate."

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:

"Must Article III of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding Section 15A so as to require that a bill or joint resolution imposing or increasing a tax may not become law unless the bill or joint resolution receives the approval of two-thirds of the membership of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the membership of the Senate?

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'."

SECTION 3. It is proposed that the first paragraph of Section 21, Article IV of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Every bill or joint resolution which shall have passed the General Assembly, except on a question of adjournment, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor, and if he approves he shall sign it; if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to the house in which it originated, which shall enter the objections at large on its Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration two-thirds or three-fourths if it increases taxes of that house shall agree to pass it, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds or three-fourths if it increases taxes of that house it shall have the same effect as if it had been signed by the Governor; but in all such cases the vote of both houses shall be taken by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill or joint resolution shall be entered on the Journals of both houses respectively."

SECTION 4. 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:

"Must the first paragraph of Section 21 of Article IV of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to increase from two-thirds to three-fourths the number of votes required to override a veto of the Governor in each House of the General Assembly if the bill or joint resolution increases taxes?

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'."