| HP0964 LD 1417 |
Session - 127th Maine Legislature |
LR 2022 Item 1 |
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| Bill Tracking, Additional Documents | Chamber Status | ||
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Change the Selection Process for the Attorney General
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed:
Constitution, Art. IX, §11 is amended to read:
Section 11. Attorney General. The Governor shall nominate and, subject to the same confirmation procedure as that for Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court, appoint the Attorney General shall be chosen biennially by joint ballot of the Senators and Representatives in convention. Vacancy in said office occurring when the Legislature is not in session, may be filled by appointment by the Governor, subject to confirmation as required by this Constitution for Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court.
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to change the process for selection of the Attorney General, requiring the Governor to nominate and appoint the Attorney General subject to confirmation by the Senate, the same selection process used for Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court?"
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. 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 of Maine on the date of the proclamation; 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 resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to change the selection process for the Attorney General. Currently, the Attorney General is selected by the Legislature. This resolution proposes that the Governor nominate and appoint the Attorney General, subject to confirmation by the Senate.