Constitution, Art. IV, Part Second, §5 is amended to read:

Section 5. Determination of Senators elected; procedure for filling vacancies. The Senate shall, on said first Wednesday of December, biennially following the general election, determine who is elected by a plurality of votes to be Senator in each district. All vacancies in the Senate arising from death, resignation, removal from the State or like causes, and also vacancies, if any, which may occur because of the failure of any district to elect by a plurality of votes the Senator to which said district shall be entitled shall be filled by an immediate election in the unrepresented district. The Governor shall issue a proclamation therefor and therein fix the time of such election.

Constitution, Art. IV, Part Third, §1 is amended to read:

Section 1. To meet annually; power of Legislature to convene itself at other times; extent of legislative power. The Legislature shall convene on the first Wednesday of December following the general election in what shall be designated the first regular session of the Legislature; and shall further convene on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January in the subsequent even-numbered year 3 years in what shall be designated the second, third and fourth regular session sessions of the Legislature; provided, however, that the business of the second and fourth regular session sessions of the Legislature shall be limited to budgetary matters; legislation in the Governor's call; legislation of an emergency nature admitted by the Legislature; legislation referred to committees for study and report by the Legislature in the first or third regular session as the case may be; and legislation presented to the Legislature by written petition of the electors under the provisions of Article IV, Part Third, Section 18. The Legislature shall enact appropriate statutory limits on the length of the first and third regular session sessions and of the second and fourth regular session sessions. The Legislature may convene at such other times on the call of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, with the consent of a majority of the Members of the Legislature of each political party, all Members of the Legislature having been first polled. The Legislature, with the exceptions hereinafter stated, shall have full power to make and establish all reasonable laws and regulations for the defense and benefit of the people of this State, not repugnant to this Constitution, nor to that of the United States.

Constitution, Art. IV, Part Third, §18, sub-§1 is amended to read:

1. Petition procedure; petitions for direct initiative of legislation. The electors may propose to the Legislature for its consideration any bill, resolve or resolution, including bills to amend or repeal emergency legislation but not an amendment of the State Constitution, by written petition addressed to the Legislature or to either branch thereof and filed in the office of the Secretary of State by the hour of 5:00 p.m., on or before the 50th day after the date of convening of the Legislature in first and third regular session sessions or on or before the 25th day after the date of convening of the Legislature in second and fourth regular session sessions. If the 50th or 25th day, whichever applies, is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period runs until the hour of 5:00 p.m., of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

Constitution, Art. V, Part Second, §1 is amended to read:

Section 1. Election. The Secretary of State shall be chosen biennially, at the first session and third regular sessions of the Legislature, by joint ballot of the Senators and Representatives in convention.

Constitution, Art. V, Part Third, §1 is amended to read:

Section 1. Election. The Treasurer shall be chosen biennially, at the first session and third regular sessions of the Legislature, by joint ballot of the Senators, and Representatives in convention.

; and be it further

Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, at a statewide election, on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question:

"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine as proposed by a resolution of the Legislature to change the term of office for State Legislators from 2 years to 4 years beginning in 2002?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question, and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns and, if it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution on January 1, 2002; and be it further

Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.

SUMMARY

This constitutional resolution changes Legislators' terms to 4 years following the general election in 2002. The Legislature meets every year, but the business in the 4th year would be restricted as it is presently in the 2nd year.