RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Reduce the Size of the Legislature to 132 Members

Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed:

Constitution, Art. IV, Part First, §2 is amended to read:

Section 2. Number of Representatives; biennial terms; division of the State into districts for House of Representatives. The House of Representatives shall consist of 151 members, except that, for the Legislature that convenes in 2009 and thereafter, the House of Representatives shall consist of 99 members, to be elected by the qualified electors, and hold their office 2 years from the day next preceding the first Wednesday in December following the general election. The Legislature which convenes in 1983 2007 and every 10th year thereafter shall cause the State to be divided into districts for the choice of one Representative for each district , using the same method as provided in Article IV, Part Second, Section 2 for apportionment of Senatorial Districts, except that each Senatorial District must be divided into 3 Representative Districts. The number of Representatives shall be divided into the number of inhabitants of the State exclusive of foreigners not naturalized according to the latest Federal Decennial Census or a State Census previously ordered by the Legislature to coincide with the Federal Decennial Census, to determine a mean population figure for each Representative District. Each Representative District shall be formed of contiguous and compact territory and shall cross political subdivision lines the least number of times necessary to establish as nearly as practicable equally populated districts. Whenever the population of a municipality entitles it to more than one district, all whole districts shall be drawn within municipal boundaries. Any population remainder within the municipality shall be included in a district with contiguous territory and shall be kept intact.

Constitution, Art. IV, Part Second, §1 is amended to read:

Section 1. Number of Senators. The Senate shall consist of an odd number of Senators, not less than 31 nor more than 35, except that, for the Legislature that convenes in 2009 and thereafter, the Senate shall consist of 33 members, elected at the same time and for the same term as Representatives by the qualified electors of the districts into which the State shall be from time to time divided.

Constitution, Art. IV, Part Second, §2, first ¶ is amended to read:

Section 2. Submission of reapportionment plan to Secretary of Senate; Legislature's action on commission's plan; division of State into Senatorial Districts; division by Supreme Judicial Court. The Legislature which shall convene in the year 1983 2007 and every 10th year thereafter shall cause the State to be divided into districts for the choice of a Senator from each district , using the same method as provided in Article IV, Part First, Section 2 for apportionment of Representative Districts. The number of Senators must be divided into the number of inhabitants of the State, exclusive of foreigners not naturalized according to the latest Federal Decennial Census or a State Census previously ordered by the Legislature to coincide with the Federal Decennial Census, to determine a mean population figure for each Senatorial District. Each Senatorial District must be formed of contiguous and compact territory and must cross political subdivision lines the least number of times necessary to establish as nearly as practicable equally populated districts. Whenever the population of a municipality entitles it to more than one district, all whole districts must be drawn within municipal boundaries. Any population remainder within the municipality must be included in a district with contiguous territory and must be kept intact.

Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question:

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below the word “Yes” or “No.” The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it further

Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.

SUMMARY

This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the House of Representatives from 151 members to 99 members and the size of the Senate from no more than 35 members to 33 members. The redistricting will be done in 2008 during the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature and the reduction in the size of each legislative body takes effect in 2009.