HF 1030

as introduced - 79th Legislature (1995 - 1996) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, 
  1.3             article V, sections 1, 2, and 5; abolishing the office 
  1.4             of lieutenant governor. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.] 
  1.7      An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to 
  1.8   the people.  If the amendment is adopted, article 5, section 1, 
  1.9   will read as follows: 
  1.10     Section 1.  The executive department consists of a 
  1.11  governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, 
  1.12  treasurer and attorney general, who shall be chosen by the 
  1.13  electors of the state.  The governor and lieutenant governor 
  1.14  shall be chosen jointly by a single vote applying to both 
  1.15  offices in a manner prescribed by law. 
  1.16     article 5, section 2, will read as follows: 
  1.17     Sec. 2.  The term of office for the governor and lieutenant 
  1.18  governor is four years and until a successor is chosen and 
  1.19  qualified.  Each The governor shall have attained the age of 25 
  1.20  years and, shall have been a bona fide resident of the state for 
  1.21  one year next preceding his election, and shall be a citizen of 
  1.22  the United States. 
  1.23     and article 5, section 5, will read as follows: 
  1.24     Sec. 5.  In case a vacancy occurs from any cause whatever 
  1.25  in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor shall be 
  2.1   governor during such vacancy.  The compensation of the 
  2.2   lieutenant governor shall be prescribed by law.  The last 
  2.3   elected presiding officer of the senate shall become lieutenant 
  2.4   governor in case a vacancy occurs in that office. In case the 
  2.5   governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his 
  2.6   office, the same devolves on the lieutenant governor.  The 
  2.7   legislature may shall provide by law for the case of the 
  2.8   removal, death, or resignation, or inability both of the 
  2.9   governor and lieutenant governor or inability to discharge the 
  2.10  duties of governor and may provide by law for continuity of 
  2.11  government in periods of emergency resulting from disasters 
  2.12  caused by enemy attack in this state, including but not limited 
  2.13  to, succession to the powers and duties of public office and 
  2.14  change of the seat of government. 
  2.15     Sec. 2.  [SCHEDULE AND QUESTION.] 
  2.16     The amendment shall be submitted to the people at the 1996 
  2.17  general election and, if approved, shall take effect in 1999.  
  2.18  The question submitted shall be: 
  2.19     "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to abolish the 
  2.20  office of lieutenant governor? 
  2.21                                     Yes .......
  2.22                                     No ........"