Print
Senate Joint Resolution 7 - 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4of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
5Representatives. SEC. 3. 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 next
9after their election, and continue two years, and until their
10successors are elected and qualified. A person shall not be
11elected for a term as representative if the term would result
12in the person serving more than a total of five consecutive
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, 2023.
222. Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State
23of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
24Senators — qualifications. SEC. 5. 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 as
29senator if the term would result in the person serving more
30than a total of three consecutive terms as a senator. If a
31person is elected to serve a portion of a term to which some
32other person was elected but that person died in office or
33resigned from office or was otherwise removed from office, that
34portion of a term served shall not be included in the terms
35of service for purposes of this limitation if the senator did
-1-1not serve for at least one-half of the four-year term. This
2limitation on terms of service applies to terms of office
3beginning on or after January 1, 2023.
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 five
19consecutive terms as a representative, and that a member of the
20senate shall not serve more than three consecutive terms as a
21senator.
22The amendment provides that if a person is elected to serve
23a portion of a term in these respective offices, the term shall
24not be included in counting terms of service if the person did
25not serve at least one-half of the full term. The amendment
26applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1,
272023.
28The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next
29general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the
30electorate for ratification.
-2-aw/sc
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:
5Representatives. SEC. 3. 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 next
9after their election, and continue two years, and until their
10successors are elected and qualified. A person shall not be
11elected for a term as representative if the term would result
12in the person serving more than a total of five consecutive
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, 2023.
222. Section 5 of Article III of the Constitution of the State
23of Iowa is repealed and the following adopted in lieu thereof:
24Senators — qualifications. SEC. 5. 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 as
29senator if the term would result in the person serving more
30than a total of three consecutive terms as a senator. If a
31person is elected to serve a portion of a term to which some
32other person was elected but that person died in office or
33resigned from office or was otherwise removed from office, that
34portion of a term served shall not be included in the terms
35of service for purposes of this limitation if the senator did
-1-1not serve for at least one-half of the four-year term. This
2limitation on terms of service applies to terms of office
3beginning on or after January 1, 2023.
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 five
19consecutive terms as a representative, and that a member of the
20senate shall not serve more than three consecutive terms as a
21senator.
22The amendment provides that if a person is elected to serve
23a portion of a term in these respective offices, the term shall
24not be included in counting terms of service if the person did
25not serve at least one-half of the full term. The amendment
26applies to terms of office beginning on or after January 1,
272023.
28The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next
29general assembly for adoption before being submitted to the
30electorate for ratification.
-2-aw/sc