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Senate Joint Resolution 4 - IntroducedA Bill ForA Joint Resolution 1proposing an amendment to the Constitution
2of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service for members
3of the general assembly.
4BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
2the State of Iowa is proposed:
31. Section 3 of Article III of the Constitution of the State
4of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
5Sec.3. Representatives. The members of the house of
6representatives shall be chosen every second year, by the
7qualified electors of their respective districts, and their
8term of office shall commence on the first day of January
9next after their election, and continue two years, and until
10their successors are elected and qualified. A person shall
11not be elected for a term as representative if the term
12would result in the person serving more than a total of six
13terms as a representative. If a person is elected to serve
14a portion of a term to which some other person was elected
15but that person died in office or resigned from office or was
16otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term served
17shall not be included in the terms of service for purposes of
18this limitation if the representative did not serve for at
19least one-half of the two-year term. This limitation on terms
20of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after
21January 1, 2025.
222. Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State
23of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
24Sec.5. Senators — qualifications. Senators shall be
25chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as
26representatives; they shall be twenty-five years of age, and
27possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence
28and citizenship. A person shall not be elected for a term
29as senator if the term would result in the person serving
30more than a total of three terms as a senator. If a person is
31elected to serve a portion of a term to which some other person
32was elected but that person died in office or resigned from
33office or was otherwise removed from office, that portion of a
34term served shall not be included in the terms of service for
35purposes of this limitation if the senator did not serve for
-1-1at least one-half of the four-year term. This limitation on
2terms of service applies to terms of office beginning on or
3after January 1, 2025.
4 Sec. 2.REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing amendment
5to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred to the
6general assembly to be chosen at the next general election
7for members of the general assembly, and the secretary of
8state is directed to cause the same to be published for three
9consecutive months previous to the date of that election as
10provided by law.
11EXPLANATION
12The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
13the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
14This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the
15Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service
16for persons elected to the office of representative or senator
17in the general assembly. The amendment provides that a member
18of the house of representatives shall not serve more than six
19terms as a representative, and that a member of the senate
20shall not serve more than three terms as a senator.
21The amendment provides that if a person is elected to serve
22a portion of a term in these respective offices, the term shall
23not be included in counting terms of service if the person did
24not serve at least one-half of the full term. The amendment
25applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1,
262025.
27The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next
28general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the
29electorate for ratification.
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2of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service for members
3of the general assembly.
4BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
2the State of Iowa is proposed:
31. Section 3 of Article III of the Constitution of the State
4of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
5Sec.3. Representatives. The members of the house of
6representatives shall be chosen every second year, by the
7qualified electors of their respective districts, and their
8term of office shall commence on the first day of January
9next after their election, and continue two years, and until
10their successors are elected and qualified. A person shall
11not be elected for a term as representative if the term
12would result in the person serving more than a total of six
13terms as a representative. If a person is elected to serve
14a portion of a term to which some other person was elected
15but that person died in office or resigned from office or was
16otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term served
17shall not be included in the terms of service for purposes of
18this limitation if the representative did not serve for at
19least one-half of the two-year term. This limitation on terms
20of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after
21January 1, 2025.
222. Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State
23of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
24Sec.5. Senators — qualifications. Senators shall be
25chosen for the term of four years, at the same time and place as
26representatives; they shall be twenty-five years of age, and
27possess the qualifications of representatives as to residence
28and citizenship. A person shall not be elected for a term
29as senator if the term would result in the person serving
30more than a total of three terms as a senator. If a person is
31elected to serve a portion of a term to which some other person
32was elected but that person died in office or resigned from
33office or was otherwise removed from office, that portion of a
34term served shall not be included in the terms of service for
35purposes of this limitation if the senator did not serve for
-1-1at least one-half of the four-year term. This limitation on
2terms of service applies to terms of office beginning on or
3after January 1, 2025.
4 Sec. 2.REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing amendment
5to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred to the
6general assembly to be chosen at the next general election
7for members of the general assembly, and the secretary of
8state is directed to cause the same to be published for three
9consecutive months previous to the date of that election as
10provided by law.
11EXPLANATION
12The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
13the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
14This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the
15Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting terms of service
16for persons elected to the office of representative or senator
17in the general assembly. The amendment provides that a member
18of the house of representatives shall not serve more than six
19terms as a representative, and that a member of the senate
20shall not serve more than three terms as a senator.
21The amendment provides that if a person is elected to serve
22a portion of a term in these respective offices, the term shall
23not be included in counting terms of service if the person did
24not serve at least one-half of the full term. The amendment
25applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1,
262025.
27The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next
28general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the
29electorate for ratification.
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