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Senate Joint Resolution 7 - IntroducedA Bill ForA Joint Resolution 1proposing amendments to the Constitution
2of the State of Iowa limiting years of service for members
3of the general assembly, the governor, and certain other
4statewide elected officers.
5BE 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4of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof: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 — term limitation. The members of
6the house of representatives shall be chosen every second year,
7by the qualified electors of their respective districts, and
8their term 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 would
12result in the person serving more than a total of four terms in
13the house of representatives. 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
18of this limitation if the person did not serve for at least
19one-half of the term. This limitation on terms of service
20applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1,
212024, and for years of service occurring on or after January
221, 2024.
232. Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State
24of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
25Sec.5. Senators — qualifications — term limitation.
26Senators shall be chosen for the term of four years, at
27the same time and place as representatives; they shall be
28twenty-five years of age, and possess the qualifications of
29representatives as to residence and citizenship. A person
30shall not be elected for a term as senator if the term would
31result in the person serving more than a total of two terms in
32the senate. If a person is elected to serve a portion of a term
33to which some other person was elected but that person died in
34office or resigned from office or was otherwise removed from
35office, that portion of a term served shall not be included
-1-1in the terms of service for purposes of this limitation if
2the person did not serve for at least one-half of the term.
3This limitation on terms of service applies to terms of office
4beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and for years of service
5occurring on or after January 1, 2024.
6 Sec. 2. The following amendment to the Constitution of the
7State of Iowa is proposed:
8Section 6 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of
9Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
10Sec.6. Eligibility — term limitation.
11No person shall be eligible to the office of governor, or
12lieutenant governor, who shall not have been a citizen of the
13United States, and a resident of the state, two years next
14preceding the election, and attained the age of thirty years
15at the time of said election.
16A person shall not be elected for a term as governor or
17lieutenant governor if the term would result in the person
18serving more than a total of three terms as governor or
19lieutenant governor, repsectively. If a person is elevated
20to serve a portion of a term to which some other person was
21elected but that person died in office or resigned from office
22or was otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term
23served shall not be included in the terms of service for
24purposes of this limitation if the person did not serve for at
25least one-half of the four-year term. This limitation on terms
26of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after
27January 1, 2024.
28 Sec. 3. The following amendment to the Constitution of the
29State of Iowa is proposed:
30Section 22 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of
31Iowa, is repealed, and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
32Sec.22. Secretary — auditor — treasurer. A secretary of
33state, an auditor of state, and a treasurer of state shall be
34elected by the qualified electors at the same time that the
35governor is elected and for a four-year term commencing on the
-2-1first day of January next after their election, and they shall
2perform such duties as may be provided by law.
3A person shall not be elected for a term as secretary of
4state, auditor of state, or treasurer of state if the term
5would result in the person serving more than a total of three
6terms in that office. If a person is appointed to serve a
7portion of a term to which some other person was elected but
8that person died in office or resigned from office or was
9otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term served
10shall not be included in the terms of service for purposes
11of this limitation if the person did not serve for at least
12one-half of the four-year term. This limitation on terms
13of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after
14January 1, 2024.
15 Sec. 4. The following amendment to the Constitution of the
16State of Iowa is proposed:
17Section 12 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of
18Iowa, is repealed, and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
19Sec.12. Attorney general. The general assembly shall
20provide, by law, for the election of an attorney general by the
21people, whose term of office shall be four years, and until
22the attorney general’s successor is elected and qualifies. A
23person shall not be elected for a term as attorney general
24if the term would result in the person serving more than a
25total of three terms as the attorney general. If a person is
26appointed to serve a portion of a term to which some other
27person was elected but that person died in office or resigned
28from office or was otherwise removed from office, that portion
29of a term served shall not be included in the terms of service
30for purposes of this limitation if the person did not serve for
31at least one-half of the four-year term. This limitation on
32terms of service applies to terms of office beginning on or
33after January 1, 2024.
34 Sec. 5.REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing amendments
35to the Constitution of the State of Iowa are referred to the
-3-1general assembly to be chosen at the next general election
2for members of the general assembly, and the secretary of
3state is directed to cause the same to be published for three
4consecutive months previous to the date of that election as
5provided by law.
6EXPLANATION
7The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
8the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
9This joint resolution proposes four amendments to the
10Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting years of service
11for persons elected to the general assembly, the office of the
12governor, and other statewide elected offices.
13The first amendment provides that a person shall not be
14elected for a term as a representative if the term would result
15in the person serving more than four terms in the house of
16representatives or elected for a term as a senator if the term
17would result in the person serving more than two terms in the
18senate. For the purposes of this limitation, a person shall
19not be considered to have served a term if that person was
20elected to serve a portion of a term if that person did not
21serve at least one-half of the full term.
22The second, third, and fourth proposed amendments provide
23that a person shall not be elected for a term as governor,
24lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state,
25treasurer of state, or attorney general, if the term would
26result in the person serving more than three terms in that
27office. For the purposes of this limitation, a person shall
28not be considered to have served a term if that person was
29elevated or appointed to serve a portion of a term if that
30person did not serve at least one-half of the full term.
31The amendments apply to terms of office beginning on or after
32January 1, 2024, and for years of service occurring on or after
33January 1, 2024.
34The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next
35general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the
-4-1electorate for ratification.
-5-ss/jh
2of the State of Iowa limiting years of service for members
3of the general assembly, the governor, and certain other
4statewide elected officers.
5BE 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 — term limitation. The members of
6the house of representatives shall be chosen every second year,
7by the qualified electors of their respective districts, and
8their term 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 would
12result in the person serving more than a total of four terms in
13the house of representatives. 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
18of this limitation if the person did not serve for at least
19one-half of the term. This limitation on terms of service
20applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1,
212024, and for years of service occurring on or after January
221, 2024.
232. Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State
24of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
25Sec.5. Senators — qualifications — term limitation.
26Senators shall be chosen for the term of four years, at
27the same time and place as representatives; they shall be
28twenty-five years of age, and possess the qualifications of
29representatives as to residence and citizenship. A person
30shall not be elected for a term as senator if the term would
31result in the person serving more than a total of two terms in
32the senate. If a person is elected to serve a portion of a term
33to which some other person was elected but that person died in
34office or resigned from office or was otherwise removed from
35office, that portion of a term served shall not be included
-1-1in the terms of service for purposes of this limitation if
2the person did not serve for at least one-half of the term.
3This limitation on terms of service applies to terms of office
4beginning on or after January 1, 2024, and for years of service
5occurring on or after January 1, 2024.
6 Sec. 2. The following amendment to the Constitution of the
7State of Iowa is proposed:
8Section 6 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of
9Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
10Sec.6. Eligibility — term limitation.
11No person shall be eligible to the office of governor, or
12lieutenant governor, who shall not have been a citizen of the
13United States, and a resident of the state, two years next
14preceding the election, and attained the age of thirty years
15at the time of said election.
16A person shall not be elected for a term as governor or
17lieutenant governor if the term would result in the person
18serving more than a total of three terms as governor or
19lieutenant governor, repsectively. If a person is elevated
20to serve a portion of a term to which some other person was
21elected but that person died in office or resigned from office
22or was otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term
23served shall not be included in the terms of service for
24purposes of this limitation if the person did not serve for at
25least one-half of the four-year term. This limitation on terms
26of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after
27January 1, 2024.
28 Sec. 3. The following amendment to the Constitution of the
29State of Iowa is proposed:
30Section 22 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of
31Iowa, is repealed, and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
32Sec.22. Secretary — auditor — treasurer. A secretary of
33state, an auditor of state, and a treasurer of state shall be
34elected by the qualified electors at the same time that the
35governor is elected and for a four-year term commencing on the
-2-1first day of January next after their election, and they shall
2perform such duties as may be provided by law.
3A person shall not be elected for a term as secretary of
4state, auditor of state, or treasurer of state if the term
5would result in the person serving more than a total of three
6terms in that office. If a person is appointed to serve a
7portion of a term to which some other person was elected but
8that person died in office or resigned from office or was
9otherwise removed from office, that portion of a term served
10shall not be included in the terms of service for purposes
11of this limitation if the person did not serve for at least
12one-half of the four-year term. This limitation on terms
13of service applies to terms of office beginning on or after
14January 1, 2024.
15 Sec. 4. The following amendment to the Constitution of the
16State of Iowa is proposed:
17Section 12 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of
18Iowa, is repealed, and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
19Sec.12. Attorney general. The general assembly shall
20provide, by law, for the election of an attorney general by the
21people, whose term of office shall be four years, and until
22the attorney general’s successor is elected and qualifies. A
23person shall not be elected for a term as attorney general
24if the term would result in the person serving more than a
25total of three terms as the attorney general. If a person is
26appointed to serve a portion of a term to which some other
27person was elected but that person died in office or resigned
28from office or was otherwise removed from office, that portion
29of a term served shall not be included in the terms of service
30for purposes of this limitation if the person did not serve for
31at least one-half of the four-year term. This limitation on
32terms of service applies to terms of office beginning on or
33after January 1, 2024.
34 Sec. 5.REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing amendments
35to the Constitution of the State of Iowa are referred to the
-3-1general assembly to be chosen at the next general election
2for members of the general assembly, and the secretary of
3state is directed to cause the same to be published for three
4consecutive months previous to the date of that election as
5provided by law.
6EXPLANATION
7The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
8the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
9This joint resolution proposes four amendments to the
10Constitution of the State of Iowa limiting years of service
11for persons elected to the general assembly, the office of the
12governor, and other statewide elected offices.
13The first amendment provides that a person shall not be
14elected for a term as a representative if the term would result
15in the person serving more than four terms in the house of
16representatives or elected for a term as a senator if the term
17would result in the person serving more than two terms in the
18senate. For the purposes of this limitation, a person shall
19not be considered to have served a term if that person was
20elected to serve a portion of a term if that person did not
21serve at least one-half of the full term.
22The second, third, and fourth proposed amendments provide
23that a person shall not be elected for a term as governor,
24lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor of state,
25treasurer of state, or attorney general, if the term would
26result in the person serving more than three terms in that
27office. For the purposes of this limitation, a person shall
28not be considered to have served a term if that person was
29elevated or appointed to serve a portion of a term if that
30person did not serve at least one-half of the full term.
31The amendments apply to terms of office beginning on or after
32January 1, 2024, and for years of service occurring on or after
33January 1, 2024.
34The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next
35general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the
-4-1electorate for ratification.
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