Senate Joint Resolution 15 - IntroducedA Bill ForA Joint Resolution 1proposing an amendment to the Constitution
2of the State of Iowa relating to the gubernatorial line of
3succession.
   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:
   3Section 17 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of
4Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
   5Sec.17.  Lieutenant governor or lieutenant governor-elect
6to become or act as governor or governor-elect.
  If there is a
7temporary disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor
8shall act as governor until the disability is removed, or
9the governor dies, resigns, or is removed from office. In
10case of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the
11governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor for
12the remainder of the term, which shall create a vacancy in
13the office of lieutenant governor. This section shall also
14apply, as appropriate, to the governor-elect and the lieutenant
15governor-elect.
16   Sec. 2.REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION.   The foregoing proposed
17amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred
18to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general
19election for members of the general assembly, and shall be
20published as provided by law for three consecutive months
21previous to the date of that election.
22EXPLANATION
23The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
24the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   25This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the
26Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the gubernatorial
27line of succession. The amendment creates a system of
28succession in the case of a permanent or temporary disability
29of the governor or governor-elect. In the case of a temporary
30disability of the governor or governor-elect, the lieutenant
31governor or lieutenant governor-elect shall act as governor or
32governor-elect until the disability is removed, or the governor
33dies, resigns, or is removed from office. In the case of the
34death, resignation, or removal from office of the governor
35or governor-elect, the lieutenant governor or lieutenant
-1-1governor-elect shall become governor or governor-elect for the
2residue of the term, and the office of lieutenant governor
3shall become vacant.
   4The resolution, if adopted, would be published and then
5referred to the next general assembly (90th) for adoption,
6before being submitted to the electorate for ratification.
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