S 0069 Joint Resolution, By Passailaigue
 A JOINT RESOLUTION 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 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.

   01/14/97  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-107
   01/14/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-107

A JOINT RESOLUTION

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'."