HF 333

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution,
article IV, section 4; providing staggered terms of
office for senators.

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

Section 1. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
new text end

new text begin An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article IV,
section 4, is proposed to the people. If the amendment is
adopted, the section will read:
new text end

Sec. 4.

Representatives shall be chosen for a term of two
years, except to fill a vacancy. Senators shall be chosen for a
term of four years, except to fill a vacancy new text begin , new text end and except new text begin as
otherwise required by this article. new text end There shall be an entire
new election of all the senators at the first election of
representatives after each new legislative apportionment
provided for in this article new text begin , and at that election senators
elected from odd-numbered districts shall be elected to two-year
terms new text end . The governor shall call elections to fill vacancies in
either house of the legislature.

Sec. 2. new text begin QUESTION.
new text end

new text begin The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the people at
the 2006 general election. The question proposed shall be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require
that, as near as practical, one-half of the members of the
senate stand for election at each biennial election of
legislators, commencing in 2012?
new text end

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