sr279_LC_28_4225S_hss_5.html
08 LC 28 4225S

The House Committee on Governmental Affairs offers the following substitute to
SR 279:

A RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Georgia so as to provide for staggered, four-year terms of office for members of the General Assembly; to provide for the implementation of staggered terms of office for members of the General Assembly; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Article III, Section II of the Constitution is amended by revising Paragraph V as follows:
"Paragraph V. Election and term of members. (a) The members of the General Assembly shall be elected by the qualified electors of their respective districts for a term of two four years and shall serve until the time fixed for the convening of the next General Assembly.
(b) The members of the General Assembly in office on June 30, 1983 2009, shall serve out the remainder of the terms to which elected.
(c) The first election for members of the General Assembly under this Constitution Paragraph shall take place on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1984 2010, and subsequent elections biennially on that day until the day of election is changed by law. In the 2010 general election, the members of the General Assembly from even-numbered districts shall be elected to two-year terms of office and the members of the General Assembly from odd-numbered districts shall be elected to four-year terms of office. Thereafter, in all subsequent elections, members of the General Assembly shall be elected at the general election immediately preceding the end of their terms of office for four-year terms of office.

SECTION 2.
The above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot submitting the above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon the following:
"(  )  YES

(  )  NO
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide for staggered, four-year terms of office for members of the General Assembly of Georgia in a similar manner to the members of the United States Senate?"
All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes." All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No." If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.