January 14, 2009, Introduced by Senator BISHOP and referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Reform.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, by amending sections 13 and 54 of article IV,
to limit the legislative session and to repeal term limits for
legislators first serving in 2011 or later.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, to limit the legislative session and to
repeal term limits for legislators first serving in 2011 or later,
is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the state:
ARTICLE IV
Sec. 13. Except when the legislature is called to convene on
extraordinary occasions, the legislature shall only meet as
provided in this section. The legislature shall meet at the seat of
government on the second Wednesday in January of each year at
twelve o'clock noon. Each regular session shall adjourn without
day, on a day determined by concurrent resolution, at twelve
o'clock noon. Any business, bill or joint resolution pending at the
final adjournment of a regular session held in an odd numbered year
shall carry over with the same status to the next regular session.
In 2011 and every year after 2011, the legislature shall meet for
not more than 90 consecutive days. In addition, the legislature may
be called to convene on an extraordinary occasion by unanimous
consent of the majority and minority leaders of each house of the
legislature.
Sec. 54. No person who has served as a state representative
prior to January 1, 2011 shall be elected to the office of state
representative more than three times. No person who has served as a
state senator prior to January 1, 2011 shall be elected to the
office of state senate more than two times. Any person appointed or
elected to fill a vacancy in the house of representatives or the
state senate for a period greater than one half of a term of such
office, shall be considered to have been elected to serve one time
in that office for purposes of this section. This limitation on the
number of times a person shall be elected to office shall apply to
terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993.
This section shall be self-executing. Legislation may be
enacted to facilitate operation of this section, but no law shall
limit or restrict the application of this section. If any part of
this section is held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the
remaining parts of this section shall not be affected but will
remain in full force and effect.
Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be
submitted to the people of the state at the next general election
in the manner provided by law.