S 0689 Joint Resolution, By Thomas
 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to Article III, Section 2 of the
 Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, relating to the House of
 Representatives, so as to provide that House members may serve only six
 complete two-year terms and to provide that House members serving in office
 when this provision is ratified into law may complete the term which they are
 currently serving plus six new terms thereafter; proposing an amendment to
 Article III, Section 6 of the Constitution, relating to the Senate, so as to
 provide that Senators may serve only three complete four-year terms, to
 provide that Senators serving in office when this provision is ratified into
 law may complete the term which they are currently serving plus three new
 terms thereafter, and to revise certain obsolete references; and proposing an
 amendment to Article VI, Section 7 of the Constitution, relating to the
 constitutional officers of this State, so as to provide that constitutional
 officers may serve only three complete four-year terms and to provide that
 constitutional officers serving in office when this provision is ratified into
 law may complete the term which they are currently serving plus three new
 terms thereafter.

   03/30/95  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-12
   03/30/95  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-12

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 2 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT HOUSE MEMBERS MAY SERVE ONLY SIX COMPLETE TWO-YEAR TERMS AND TO PROVIDE THAT HOUSE MEMBERS SERVING IN OFFICE WHEN THIS PROVISION IS RATIFIED INTO LAW MAY COMPLETE THE TERM WHICH THEY ARE CURRENTLY SERVING PLUS SIX NEW TERMS THEREAFTER; PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 6 OF THE CONSTITUTION, RELATING TO THE SENATE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT SENATORS MAY SERVE ONLY THREE COMPLETE FOUR-YEAR TERMS, TO PROVIDE THAT SENATORS SERVING IN OFFICE WHEN THIS PROVISION IS RATIFIED INTO LAW MAY COMPLETE THE TERM WHICH THEY ARE CURRENTLY SERVING PLUS THREE NEW TERMS THEREAFTER, AND TO REVISE CERTAIN OBSOLETE REFERENCES; AND PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 7 OF THE CONSTITUTION, RELATING TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS OF THIS STATE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS MAY SERVE ONLY THREE COMPLETE FOUR-YEAR TERMS AND TO PROVIDE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS SERVING IN OFFICE WHEN THIS PROVISION IS RATIFIED INTO LAW MAY COMPLETE THE TERM WHICH THEY ARE CURRENTLY SERVING PLUS THREE NEW TERMS THEREAFTER.

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

SECTION 1. Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, is amended to read:

"Section 2. The House of Representatives shall must be composed of members chosen by ballot every second year by citizens of this State, qualified as in this Constitution is provided.

A member of the House of Representatives may not serve more than six complete two-year terms. A member of the House of Representatives serving in office on the effective date of the ratification of the provision in this section limiting the number of terms a House member may serve may continue to serve his then current term and then six new terms thereafter. Service in another public office does not constitute prior service for purposes of this provision and this limitation on the number of terms which may be served applies whether or not the terms served in this office are consecutive or nonconsecutive."

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, Section 2 of the Constitution of this State relating to the House of Representatives be amended so as to provide that House members may serve only six complete two-year terms in office and to provide that House members serving in office when this provision is ratified into law may complete the term which they are currently serving plus six new terms thereafter?

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. Article III, Section 6 of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, is amended to read:

"Section 6. The Senate shall must be composed of one member chosen from each County senatorial election district as established by law, to be elected for the term of four years by the qualified electors in each County, of the district in the same manner in which members of the House of Representatives are chosen.

A member of the Senate may not serve more than three complete four-year terms. A member of the Senate serving in office on the effective date of the ratification of the provision in this section limiting the number of terms a Senator may serve may continue to serve his then current term and then three new terms thereafter. Service in another public office does not constitute prior service for purposes of this provision and this limitation on the number of terms which may be served applies whether or not the terms served in this office are consecutive or nonconsecutive."

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 Article III, Section 6 of the Constitution of this State relating to the Senate be amended so as to provide that Senators may serve only three complete four-year terms in office and to provide that Senators serving in office when this provision is ratified into law may complete the term which they are currently serving plus three new terms thereafter?

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 5. Article VI, Section 7 of the Constitution of South Carolina, 1895, is amended to read:

"Section 7. There shall must be elected by the qualified voters of the State a Secretary of State, an Attorney General, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of Education, Comptroller General, Commissioner of Agriculture, and an Adjutant General who shall hold their respective offices for a term of four years coterminous with that of the Governor. The duties and compensation of such these offices shall must be prescribed by law and their compensation shall must be neither increased nor diminished during the period for which they shall have been elected.

These constitutional officers may not serve more than three complete four-year terms. A constitutional officer serving in office on the effective date of the ratification of the provision in this section limiting the number of terms a constitutional officer may serve may continue to serve his then current term and then three four-year terms thereafter. Service in another public office does not constitute prior service for purposes of this provision and this limitation on the number of terms which may be served applies whether or not the terms served in this office are consecutive or nonconsecutive."

SECTION 6. 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 VI, Section 7 of the Constitution of this State relating to the constitutional officers of this State be amended so as to provide that these constitutional officers may not serve more than three complete four-year terms and to provide that a constitutional officer of this State serving in office when this provision is ratified into law may complete the term which he is currently serving plus three four-year terms thereafter?

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'."