Revision: Feb. 15, 2023, 10:47 a.m.
2023 SESSION
23-1060.1
06/10
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION [resolution number]
RELATING TO: the general court.
PROVIDING THAT: the general court convene on the same day as the governor's inauguration.
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ANALYSIS
This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution provides for the legislature to convene on the same day as the governor's inauguration.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type
23-1060.1
06/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
RELATING TO: the general court.
PROVIDING THAT: the general court convene on the same day as the governor's inauguration.
Be it Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, that the
Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:
I.(a) That article 3 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 3d. [General Court, When to Meet and Dissolve.] The senate and house shall assemble biennially on the first Wednesday [of] in December for organizational purposes in even numbered years, and shall assemble annually on the first [Wednesday] Thursday following the first [Tuesday] Wednesday in January, and at such other times as they may judge necessary; and shall dissolve and be dissolved at 12:01 A.M. on the first Wednesday [of] in December in even numbered years and shall be styled The General Court of New Hampshire.
(b) That article 33 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 33. [Secretary of State to Count Votes for Senators and Notify Persons Elected.] And that there may be a due meeting of senators and representatives on the first [Wednesday of December] Thursday following the first Wednesday in January, biennially, the secretary of state shall, as soon as may be, examine the returned copy of such records; and [fourteen] 14 days before the first [Wednesday of December] Thursday following the first Wednesday in January, [he] the secretary of state shall issue [his] a summons to such persons as appear to be chosen senators and representatives, by a plurality of votes, to attend and take their seats on that day.
(c) That article 42 of the second part of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[Art.] 42. [Election of Governor; Return of Votes; Electors; If No Choice, Legislature to Elect One of Two Highest Candidates; Qualifications for Governor.] The governor shall be chosen biennially in the month of November; and the votes for governor shall be received, sorted, counted, certified and returned, in the same manner as the votes for senators; and the secretary shall lay the same before the senate and house of representatives, on the first [Wednesday] Thursday following the first [Tuesday of] Wednesday in January to be by them examined, and in case of an election by a plurality of votes through the state, the choice shall be by them declared and published. And the qualifications of electors of the governor shall be the same as those for senators; and if no person shall have a plurality of votes, the senate and house of representatives shall, by joint ballot elect one of the 2 persons, having the highest number of votes, who shall be declared governor. And no person shall be eligible to this office, unless at the time of [his] the governor's election, [he] the governor shall have been an inhabitant of this state for 7 years next preceding, and unless [he] the governor shall be of the age of 30 years.
II. That the above amendments proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2024.
III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2024 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2023 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 articles 3, 33, and 42 of the second part of the constitution to read as follows:
[Art.] 3d. [General Court, When to Meet and Dissolve.] The senate and house shall assemble biennially on the first Wednesday in December for organizational purposes in even numbered years, and shall assemble annually on the first Thursday following the first Wednesday in January, and at such other times as they may judge necessary; and shall dissolve and be dissolved at 12:01 A.M. on the first Wednesday in December in even numbered years and shall be styled The General Court of New Hampshire.
[Art.] 33. [Secretary of State to Count Votes for Senators and Notify Persons Elected.] And that there may be a due meeting of senators and representatives on the first Thursday following the first Wednesday in January, biennially, the secretary of state shall, as soon as may be, examine the returned copy of such records; and 14 days before the first Thursday following the first Wednesday in January, the secretary of state shall issue a summons to such persons as appear to be chosen senators and representatives, by a plurality of votes, to attend and take their seats on that day.
[Art.] 42. [Election of Governor; Return of Votes; Electors; If No Choice, Legislature to Elect One of Two Highest Candidates; Qualifications for Governor.] The governor shall be chosen biennially in the month of November; and the votes for governor shall be received, sorted, counted, certified and returned, in the same manner as the votes for senators; and the secretary shall lay the same before the senate and house of representatives, on the first Thursday following the first Wednesday in January to be by them examined, and in case of an election by a plurality of votes through the state, the choice shall be by them declared and published. And the qualifications of electors of the governor shall be the same as those for senators; and if no person shall have a plurality of votes, the senate and house of representatives shall, by joint ballot elect one of the 2 persons, having the highest number of votes, who shall be declared governor. And no person shall be eligible to this office, unless at the time of the governor's election, the governor shall have been an inhabitant of this state for 7 years next preceding, and unless the governor shall be of the age of 30 years."
V. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot with other constitutional questions or on the official ballot. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 ovals next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no oval is marked, 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 2023 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.
VII. Voters' Guide.
AT THE PRESENT TIME, members of the senate and house of representatives convene on the first Wednesday following the first Tuesday in January. The date of the governor's inauguration is not mandated or designated.
IF THE AMENDMENT IS ADOPTED, members of the senate and house of representatives would convene biennially on the first Thursday following the first Wednesday in January in even numbered years in order to convene on the same day as the governor's inauguration, as well as combining the governor's canvassing and inauguration date to be the first Thursday following the first Wednesday in January biennially.