November 8, 2011, Introduced by Reps. Olson and Callton and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state
constitution of 1963, by amending sections 13 and 54 of article IV
and section 15 of article V, to limit the legislative session, to
modify when extraordinary sessions may be held, and to modify term
limits for certain elected state offices.
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, to modify
when extraordinary sessions may be held, and to modify term limits
for certain elected state offices, 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 as provided in section 15 of article V of
this constitution, 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 2015 and every
year after 2015, the legislature shall meet for not more than 170
consecutive days.
The legislature may be convened for special legislative
sessions for a period of not more than 30 consecutive days if a
resolution is adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members
elected and serving in each house. The resolution convening the
legislature shall specify a purpose or purposes for convening a
special session, and any special session convened by the resolution
shall consider only measures germane to the purpose or purposes
expressed in the resolution, unless the legislature adopts a
resolution during the special session approving an additional
purpose or purposes by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected
and serving in each house.
Sec.
54. No person shall be elected to the office of serve as
a state representative more than three times. No
person shall be
elected
to the office of state senate more than two times or state
senator for a combined total of more than 14 years. 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, who
holds office for one day or more
within
a calendar year shall be considered to
have been elected to
serve
one time in that office served
the entire calendar year for
purposes
of this section. This limitation on the number of times
years a person shall be elected to may serve in office shall apply
to
terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993. 2015 and
to elected officials first elected to serve as either state
representative or state senator in November 2014 or later. A person
is not eligible to serve as a state representative or state senator
unless that person is eligible to serve the entire term of that
office under this section.
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.
ARTICLE V
Sec. 15. The governor may convene the legislature on
extraordinary occasions for a period of not more than 30
consecutive days. The specification of purpose by the governor may
be considered by the legislature.
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.