SCR36

A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article V, Section I, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution.

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

1. The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is agreed to:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Amend Article V, Section I, paragraph 5 to read as follows:

5. The term of office of the Governor and of the Lieutenant Governor shall be four years, beginning at noon of the third Tuesday in January next following their election, and ending at noon of the third Tuesday in January four years thereafter. No person who has been elected Governor for two successive four-year terms, [including] excluding an unexpired term, shall again be eligible for that office until the third Tuesday in January of the fourth year following the expiration of the second successive term.

(cf: Art. V, Sec. I, par. 5; amended effective January 17, 2006)

2. When this proposed amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the next general election occurring more than three months after the final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election.

3. This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the following manner and form:

There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:

a. In every municipality in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede the question as follows:

If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (a) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (a) in the square opposite the word "No."

b. In every municipality the following question:

		CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ALLOW A GOVERNOR TO SERVE A PARTIAL TERM AND TWO FOUR-YEAR TERMS
	YES	Do you approve amending the Constitution to allow a Governor to serve a partial term and two four-year terms?
		INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
	NO	Currently, the Constitution allows a person to serve as Governor for only two terms in a row. An unexpired term is considered the same as a full four-year term. This amendment would allow a Governor to serve for an unexpired term and two four-year terms.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to Article V, Section I, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution which would exclude an unexpired term from the current limit of two successive terms. Under the amendment, a Governor could serve successively an unexpired term and two full four-year terms.