Bill Text: IA SJR7 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service for members of the general assembly.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-02 - Subcommittee: Feenstra, Chapman, and Jochum. S.J. 457. [SJR7 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2017-SJR7-Introduced.html
Senate Joint Resolution 7 - Introduced SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION BY BERTRAND SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution 2 of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service for members 3 of the general assembly. 4 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1940XS (2) 87 aw/sc PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of 1 2 the State of Iowa is proposed: 1 3 1. Section 3 of Article III of the Constitution of the State 1 4 of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: 1 5 Representatives.SEC. 3. The members of the house of 1 6 representatives shall be chosen every second year, by the 1 7 qualified electors of their respective districts, and their 1 8 term of office shall commence on the first day of January next 1 9 after their election, and continue two years, and until their 1 10 successors are elected and qualified. A person shall not be 1 11 elected for a term as representative if the term would result 1 12 in the person serving more than a total of five consecutive 1 13 terms as a representative. If a person is elected to serve 1 14 a portion of a term to which some other person was elected 1 15 but that person died in office or resigned from office or was 1 16 otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term served 1 17 shall not be included in the terms of service for purposes of 1 18 this limitation if the representative did not serve for at 1 19 least one=half of the two=year term. This limitation on terms 1 20 of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after 1 21 January 1, 2023. 1 22 2. Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State 1 23 of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: 1 24 Senators ==== qualifications.SEC. 5. Senators shall be 1 25 chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as 1 26 representatives; they shall be twenty=five years of age, and 1 27 possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence 1 28 and citizenship. A person shall not be elected for a term as 1 29 senator if the term would result in the person serving more 1 30 than a total of three consecutive terms as a senator. If a 1 31 person is elected to serve a portion of a term to which some 1 32 other person was elected but that person died in office or 1 33 resigned from office or was otherwise removed from office, that 1 34 portion of a term served shall not be included in the terms 1 35 of service for purposes of this limitation if the senator did 2 1 not serve for at least one=half of the four=year term. This 2 2 limitation on terms of service applies to terms of office 2 3 beginning on or after January 1, 2023. 2 4 Sec. 2. REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing amendment 2 5 to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred to the 2 6 general assembly to be chosen at the next general election 2 7 for members of the general assembly, and the secretary of 2 8 state is directed to cause the same to be published for three 2 9 consecutive months previous to the date of that election as 2 10 provided by law. 2 11 EXPLANATION 2 12 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 13 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 14 This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the 2 15 Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service 2 16 for persons elected to the office of representative or senator 2 17 in the general assembly. The amendment provides that a member 2 18 of the house of representatives shall not serve more than five 2 19 consecutive terms as a representative, and that a member of the 2 20 senate shall not serve more than three consecutive terms as a 2 21 senator. 2 22 The amendment provides that if a person is elected to serve 2 23 a portion of a term in these respective offices, the term shall 2 24 not be included in counting terms of service if the person did 2 25 not serve at least one=half of the full term. The amendment 2 26 applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 2 27 2023. 2 28 The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next 2 29 general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the 2 30 electorate for ratification. LSB 1940XS (2) 87 aw/sc
