Bill Text: WV HJR16 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Term Limits for Senators and Delegates in the West Virginia Legislature
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-12 - To House Judiciary [HJR16 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2021-HJR16-Introduced.html
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2021 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Joint Resolution 16
By DELEGATE BATES
[Introduced February 12, 2021; Referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary]
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, amending section three, article VI thereof, relating to imposing term limits for senators and delegates; numbering and designating such proposed amendment; and providing a summarized statement of the purpose of such proposed amendment.
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:
That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the state at the next general election to be held in the year 2022, which proposed amendment is that section three, article VI thereof be amended to read as follows:
ARTICLE VI. THE LEGISLATURE.
§3. Senators and delegates -- Terms of office; limitation.
Senators shall be elected for the term of four years, and delegates for the term of two years. The senators first elected, shall divide themselves into two classes, one senator from every district being assigned to each class; and of these classes, the first to be designated by lot in such manner as the Senate may determine, shall hold their seats for two years and the second for four years, so that after the first election, one half of the senators shall be elected biennially.
A person who has been elected or who has served as a senator during all or any part of three consecutive terms shall be ineligible for the office of senator during any part of the term immediately following the third of the three consecutive terms. No person who has served three or more consecutive terms as a senator upon the ratification of this section in 2022, may serve another consecutive term beginning in 2023.
A person who has been elected or who has served as a delegate during all or any part of six consecutive terms shall be ineligible for the office of delegate during any part of the term immediately following the sixth of the six consecutive terms. No person who has served six or more consecutive terms as a delegate upon the ratification of this section in 2022, may serve another consecutive term beginning in 2023.
Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such proposed amendment is hereby numbered “Amendment No.1” and designated as the “Term Limits for Senators and Delegates in the West Virginia Legislature” and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: “The purpose of this amendment is to limit the number of terms a senator or delegate may serve in the West Virginia Legislature.”
NOTE: The purpose of this resolution is to limit the number of terms a senator or delegate may serve in the West Virginia Legislature.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present Constitution, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
