South Carolina General Assembly
107th Session, 1987-1988

Bill 1140

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               1140
Ratification Number:       593
Act Number                 689
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Joint resolution, relating to grand and
                           petit juries
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A689, R593, S1140)

A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 22 OF ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO GRAND AND PETIT JURIES, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT JURORS MUST BE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THIS STATE AND BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, AND PROVIDE THAT JURORS MUST BE RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE AND HAVE SUCH OTHER QUALIFICATIONS AS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY PRESCRIBE.

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

Constitutional amendment proposed

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Section 22 of Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:

"Section 22. The petit jury of the circuit court shall consist of twelve members and the number of jurors of other courts shall be determined by law. All jurors in any trial court must agree to a verdict in order to render the same. The grand jury of each county shall consist of eighteen members, twelve of whom must agree in a matter before it can be submitted to the court. Each juror must be a resident of this State and have such other qualifications as the General Assembly may prescribe."

Question submitted to electors

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 thereon:

"Must Section 22 of Article V of the Constitution of this State be amended so as to delete the requirement that jurors must be qualified electors of this State and be of good moral character and provide that jurors must be residents of this State and have such other qualifications as the General Assembly may prescribe?

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'."

Ratified the 12th day of May, 1988.