SF 142

as introduced - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state government; proposing an amendment 
  1.3             to the Minnesota Constitution, article V, sections 1, 
  1.4             2, 5; abolishing the office of lieutenant governor. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.] 
  1.7      An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to 
  1.8   the people.  If the amendment is adopted, article V, section 1, 
  1.9   will read: 
  1.10     Section 1.  The executive department consists of a 
  1.11  governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, and 
  1.12  attorney general, who shall be chosen by the electors of the 
  1.13  state.  The governor and lieutenant governor shall be chosen 
  1.14  jointly by a single vote applying to both offices in a manner 
  1.15  prescribed by law. 
  1.16     Article 5, section 2, will read: 
  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     Article 5, section 5, will read: 
  1.24     Sec. 5.  In case a vacancy occurs from any cause whatever 
  1.25  in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor secretary of 
  2.1   state shall be governor during such vacancy.  The compensation 
  2.2   of the 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 the offices of 
  2.5   governor and secretary of state.  In case the governor is unable 
  2.6   to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the same 
  2.7   devolves on the lieutenant governor secretary of state.  The 
  2.8   legislature may provide by law for the case of the removal, 
  2.9   death, resignation, or inability both of the governor and 
  2.10  lieutenant governor secretary of state to discharge the duties 
  2.11  of governor and may provide by law for continuity of government 
  2.12  in periods of emergency resulting from disasters caused by enemy 
  2.13  attack in this state, including but not limited to, succession 
  2.14  to the powers and duties of public office and change of the seat 
  2.15  of government. 
  2.16     Sec. 2.  [SCHEDULE AND QUESTION.] 
  2.17     The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the people at 
  2.18  the 2004 general election and, if approved, shall take effect on 
  2.19  the first Monday in January 2007.  The question submitted shall 
  2.20  be: 
  2.21     "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to abolish the 
  2.22  office of lieutenant governor on the first Monday in January 
  2.23  2007? 
  2.24                                     Yes .......
  2.25                                     No ........"