CACR10 (2005) Detail

Relating to apportionment of representatives. Providing that the legislature apportion representative districts according to certain fixed standards.


CACR 10 – AS INTRODUCED

2005 SESSION

05-0093

03/09

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10

RELATING TO: apportionment of representatives.

PROVIDING THAT: the legislature apportion representative districts according to certain fixed standards.

SPONSORS: Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Rep. Dumaine, Rock 3

COMMITTEE: Election Law

ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment-concurrent resolution requires the legislature to apportion representative districts according to standards established in the resolution.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05-0093

03/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Five

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RELATING TO: apportionment of representatives.

PROVIDING THAT: the legislature apportion representative districts according to certain fixed standards.

Be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, that the

Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:

I. That article 9 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:

[Art.] 9th [Representatives Elected Every Second Year; Apportionment of Representatives.] There shall be in the legislature of this state a house of representatives, biennially elected and founded on principles of equality, and representation therein shall be as equal as circumstances will admit. The whole number of representatives to be chosen from the towns, wards, places, and representative districts thereof established hereunder, shall be not less than 375 or more than 400. As soon as possible after the convening of the next regular session of the legislature, and at the session in 1971, and ever 10 years thereafter, the legislature shall make an apportionment of representatives according to the last general census of the inhabitants of the state taken by authority of the United States or of this state. In making such apportionment, no town, ward or place shall be divided nor the boundaries thereof altered. In making such apportionment, the legislature shall divide the number of inhabitants of the state by 400, and each town, ward, or place having inhabitants numbering 80 percent or more of such quotient shall constitute a representative district; the legislature shall establish representative districts consisting of the remaining towns, wards, and places by combining contiguous towns, wards, and places in a manner that reflects, to the extent practicable, community affiliations and geographical similarity. The legislature shall assign the number of representatives to be chosen from each representative district.

II. That the above amendment proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2006.

III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2006 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2005 session of the general court shall be approved.

IV. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:

“Are you in favor of amending part 2, article 9 of the Constition? If yes, part 2, article 9 would read as follows:

[Art.] 9th [Representatives Elected Every Second Year; Apportionment of Representatives.] There shall be in the legislature of this state a house of representatives, biennially elected and founded on principles of equality, and representation therein shall be as equal as circumstances will admit. The whole number of representatives to be chosen from the towns, wards, places, and representative districts thereof established hereunder, shall be not less than 375 or more than 400. As soon as possible after the convening of the next regular session of the legislature, and at the session in 1971, and ever 10 years thereafter, the legislature shall make an apportionment of representatives according to the last general census of the inhabitants of the state taken by authority of the United States or of this state. In making such apportionment, no town, ward or place shall be divided nor the boundaries thereof altered. In making such apportionment, the legislature shall divide the number of inhabitants of the state by 400, and each town, ward, or place having inhabitants numbering 80 percent or more of such quotient shall constitute a representative district; the legislature shall establish representative districts consisting of the remaining towns, wards, and places by combining contiguous towns, wards, and places in a manner that reflects, to the extent practicable, community affiliations and geographical similarity. The legislature shall assign the number of representatives to be chosen from each representative district.”

V. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot or on the same ballot with other constitutional questions. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 squares next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no cross is made in either of the squares, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2005 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.

VI. That if the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.