HF 770

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:41am

A bill for an act
relating to elections; providing term limits for state legislators and constitutional
officers; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV,
section 6; and article V, sections 2 and 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED.
new text end

new text begin An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the
amendment is adopted, article IV, section 6, will read:
new text end

Sec. 6.

Senators and representatives shall be qualified voters of the state, and shall
have resided one year in the state and six months immediately preceding the election in
the district from which elected. new text begin A person may not be elected more than three times to the
office of senator or five times to the office of representative. new text end Each house shall be the judge
of the election returns and eligibility of its own members. The legislature shall prescribe
by law the manner for taking evidence in cases of contested seats in either house.

new text begin article V, section 2, will read:
new text end

Sec. 2.

The term of office for the governor and lieutenant governor is four years and
until a successor is chosen and qualified. Each shall have attained the age of 25 years and,
shall have been a bona fide resident of the state for one year next preceding his election,
and shall be a citizen of the United States. new text begin A person may not be elected more than twice to
the office of governor nor more than twice to the office of lieutenant governor.
new text end

new text begin article V, section 4, will read:
new text end

Sec. 4.

The term of office of the secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor is
four years and until a successor is chosen and qualified. new text begin A person may not be elected more
than twice to the office of secretary of state, attorney general, or state auditor. new text end The duties
and salaries of the executive officers shall be prescribed by law.

Sec. 2. new text begin SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2010 general
election. The question submitted must be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to place limits on the number of
terms of office of state legislators and constitutional officers?
new text end

new text begin Yes ....... new text end

new text begin No ......." new text end

new text begin Elections before 2010 must be disregarded in determining the limits imposed by
the amendment.
new text end