CACR 10 – AS INTRODUCED

2015 SESSION

15-0008

06/05

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10

RELATING TO: term of office.

PROVIDING THAT: beginning with the 2018 general election, there shall be a 4-year term of office for governor.

SPONSORS: Rep. Ratzki, Merr 1; Rep. Cloutier, Sull 10; Rep. R. Brown, Graf 2; Rep. M. Smith, Straf 6; Rep. Karrick, Merr 25; Rep. Luneau, Merr 10; Rep. Cahill, Rock 17; Rep. Bartlett, Merr 19; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution provides that the governor’s term of office shall be 4 years.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

15-0008 06/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RELATING TO: term of office.

PROVIDING THAT: beginning with the 2018 general election, there shall be a 4-year term of office for governor.

Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that the

Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:

I. That article 42 of the second part of the constitution be repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

[Art.] 42. [Election of Governor, Return of Votes; Electors; If No Choice, Legislature to Elect One of 2 Highest Candidates; Qualifications for Governor.] Beginning with the 2018 General Election, the Governor shall be elected every 4 years in the month of November; and the votes for Governor shall be received, sorted, counted, certified and returned, in the same manner as the votes for Senators. The secretary shall present the results to the Senate and House of Representatives on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January to be examined by them. In case of an election by a plurality of votes throughout the state, the General Court shall declare and publish the name of the winner. The qualifications of electors of the Governor shall be the same as those for Senators; and if no person shall have a plurality of votes, the Senate and House of Representatives shall, by joint ballot, elect one of the 2 persons, having the highest number of votes, who shall be declared Governor. No person shall be eligible for this office, unless at the time of the election, such person shall have been an inhabitant of this state for 7 years next preceding, and unless such person shall be of the age of 30 years.

II. That the above amendment proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2016.

III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2016 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2015 session of the general court shall be approved.

IV. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:

“Are you in favor of repealing and reenacting article 42 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows:

[Art.] 42. [Election of Governor, Return of Votes; Electors; If No Choice, Legislature to Elect One of 2 Highest Candidates; Qualifications for Governor.] Beginning with the 2018 General Election, the Governor shall be elected every 4 years in the month of November; and the votes for Governor shall be received, sorted, counted, certified and returned, in the same manner as the votes for Senators. The secretary shall present the results to the Senate and House of Representatives on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday of January to be examined by them. In case of an election by a plurality of votes throughout the state, the General Court shall declare and publish the name of the winner. The qualifications of electors of the Governor shall be the same as those for Senators; and if no person shall have a plurality of votes, the Senate and House of Representatives shall, by joint ballot, elect one of the 2 persons, having the highest number of votes, who shall be declared Governor. No person shall be eligible for this office, unless at the time of the election, such person shall have been an inhabitant of this state for 7 years next preceding, and unless such person shall be of the age of 30 years.”

V. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot or on the same ballot with other constitutional questions. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 squares next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no cross is made in either of the squares, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2015 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.

VI. That if the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.