Current Status Bill Number:451 Type of Legislation:Joint Resolution JR Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19950207 Primary Sponsor:Moore All Sponsors:Moore Drafted Document Number:jud6013.tlm Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 11 SJ Subject:Legislature, term limitations
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ Senate 19950207 Introduced, read first time, 11 SJ referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 7 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON THE RATIFICATION INTO LAW OF THIS PROVISION, NO PERSON WHO IS IN THE LAST YEAR OF A SIXTH CONSECUTIVE TERM AS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OR WHO IS IN THE LAST YEAR OF A THIRD CONSECUTIVE TERM AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE, OR WHO HAS SERVED TWELVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EITHER AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE OR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR A COMBINATION THEREOF SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SEAT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO PROHIBIT A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FROM BEING REQUIRED TO VACATE HIS SEAT DURING A TERM FOR WHICH HE WAS ELECTED.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article III, Section 7 of the Constitution of this State be amended to read:
"Section 7. (A) No person shall be eligible for a seat in the Senate or House of Representatives who, at the time of his election, is not a duly qualified elector under this Constitution in the Senatorial District in regard to any particular seat as may be designated by the General Assembly, as to the Senate, and in the county, as to the House, in which he may be chosen. Senators shall be at least twenty-five and Representatives at least twenty-one years of age.
(B) Effective immediately upon the date of the ratification into law of this section, a person who is in the last year of a sixth consecutive term as a member of the House of Representatives, or who is in the last year of a third consecutive term as a member of the Senate, or who has served twelve consecutive years in the General Assembly either as a member of the Senate or House of Representatives or a combination thereof shall not be eligible for a seat in the General Assembly. No member is required to vacate his seat during any term for which he was elected."
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 on the ballot:
"Shall Article III, Section 7 of the Constitution of this State relating to the qualifications of Senators and Members of the House be amended so as to provide that no person who is in the last year of a sixth consecutive term as a member of the House of Representatives, or who is in the last year of a third consecutive term as a member of the Senate, or who has served twelve consecutive years in the General Assembly either as a member of the Senate or House of Representatives or a combination thereof shall be eligible for a seat in the General Assembly and to prohibit a member from being required to vacate his seat during any term for which he was elected?
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'."