Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:4578 Primary Sponsor:Wilkins Committee Number:25 Type of Legislation:JR Subject:Legislature, limitation of terms Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Companion Bill Number:1028 Computer Document Number:JIC/5314HC.94 Introduced Date:19940120 Last History Body:House Last History Date:19940120 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Wilkins Vaughn Baker Cato Jaskwhich Clyborne Fair Type of Legislation:Joint Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN Leg Involved ____ ______ ____________ ______________________________ ___ ____________ 4578 House 19940120 Introduced, read first time, 25 referred to CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
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 THREE 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 THREE 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 TWO 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 TWO NEW TERMS THEREAFTER, AND TO REVISE CERTAIN OBSOLETE REFERENCES.
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 three 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 three new terms thereafter."
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 three 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 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 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 two 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 two new terms thereafter."
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 two 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 two 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'."