1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV, section 3; by 
1.3 	adding an article; providing for a bipartisan legislative redistricting commission.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
 1.6 	An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to  the people.  If the 
1.7 	amendment is adopted, article IV,  section 3, will read:

1.8 	Sec. 3. At  its first session after each enumeration of the inhabitants of  this state made 
1.9 	by the authority of the United States, the  legislature shall have the power to prescribe 
1.10 	the bounds of  congressional and legislative districts.  Boundaries for the districts of 
1.11 	representatives in the Congress of the United States and for state senators and state 
1.12 	representatives must be established by the redistricting commission created in article 
1.13 	XV. Senators shall be  chosen by single districts of convenient contiguous territory.   No 
1.14 	representative district shall be divided in the formation of  a senate district.  The senate 
1.15 	districts shall be numbered in a  regular series.  
1.16 	A new article shall be added to read: 
1.17 	ARTICLE XV
1.18 	REDISTRICTING COMMISSION

1.19 	Section 1.In each year ending in the number one, or when required by court order, a 
1.20 	commission shall be established to draw the boundaries of legislative and congressional 
1.21 	districts. 
1.22 	The commission consists of nine members who are eligible voters of the state. 
1.23 	One member shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one 
2.1 	member by the members of the house of representatives representing the largest political 
2.2 	party caucus other than the party represented by the speaker. One member shall be 
2.3 	appointed by the president of the senate and one member by the members of the senate 
2.4 	representing the largest political party caucus other than the party represented by the 
2.5 	president. Article IV, section 5, does not apply to the appointment of these four members 
2.6 	of the redistricting commission.
2.7 	The remaining five members shall be appointed by unanimous agreement of the 
2.8 	legislative appointees. The qualifications of these members shall be provided by law.
2.9 	Members of the commission shall be appointed within the time provided by law, 
2.10 	but not later than March 15, when the commission is established in a year ending in the 
2.11 	number one. The Supreme Court shall fill any vacancy caused by failure to appoint a 
2.12 	member within the time required by law. 

2.13 	Sec. 2.The commission shall adopt plans for congressional and legislative districts 
2.14 	within the time provided by law, but not later than December 1, when the commission 
2.15 	is established in a year ending in the number one. The plan shall set forth all of the new 
2.16 	congressional and legislative districts. A plan is adopted by the commission when it is 
2.17 	approved by a vote of at least six of its members. 

2.18 	Sec. 3.A plan is effective when it is adopted and any judicial proceedings under 
2.19 	section 4 have been completed. The districts set forth in a plan shall govern elections of 
2.20 	state senators, state representatives, and representatives in Congress, beginning with the 
2.21 	first general election after the plan is effective. 

2.22 	Sec. 4.The Supreme Court shall exercise original jurisdiction in any matter relating to 
2.23 	redistricting in the manner provided by law. If the commission fails to adopt a plan within 
2.24 	the time provided by law, the Supreme Court shall adopt its own plan. 

2.25 	Sec. 5.The legislature may enact the laws necessary to implement this article, provided 
2.26 	that redistricting shall be governed by the law in effect on January 1 of the year in which a 
2.27 	commission is established.

2.28 	Sec. 2. SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
 2.29 	The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the people at the 2006 general 
2.30 	election. The question proposed shall be:
3.1 	"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to transfer from the legislature to a 
3.2 	bipartisan commission the power to draw the boundaries of legislative and congressional 
3.3 	districts?

3.4	Yes .......
	
3.5	No ......."