Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1294
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: DUPREY, COURTNEY, SNOWE-MELLO, CEBRA, CRESSEY, CROSTHWAITE, JOY, THOMAS, VAUGHAN, PLOWMAN

Legislative Document 
No. 1294 
H.P.891 
House of Representatives, March 15,2005 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Define Marriage 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative DUPREY of Hampden. 
11/~1h.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Senator COURTNEY of York, Senator SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin 
and Representatives: CEBRA of Naples, CRESSEY of Cornish, CROSTHWAITE of 
Ellsworth, JOY of Crystal, THOMAS of Ripley, VAUGHAN of Durham, Senator: 
PLOWMAN of Penobscot. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Constitutional amendment. 
Resolved: 
Two 
thirds 
branch 
of 
the 
Legislature 
concurring, 
that 
the 
amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed: 
Constitution, Art. IX, §24 is enacted to read: 
of 
each 
following 
SectioD 24. 
Marriage. 
Only a union between one man and one 
woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this State and 
its 
political 
subdivisions. 
This 
State 
and 
its 
political 
subdivisions may not create or recognize 
a 
legal status for 
relationships 
of 
unmarried 
individuals 
that 
intends 
to 
approximate 
the design, qualities, 
significance or effect of 
marriage. 
; 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 to provide 
that only a union between one man and one woman may be a 
marriage valid in or 
recognized by this State and its 
political subdivisions 
and 
to prohibit 
the 
creation or 
recognition of a legal status similar to marriage?" 
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 of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it 
further 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: 
Tha t 
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 provides that only a union 
between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or 
recognized by this State and its political subdivisions. 
This 
constitutional resolution also provides that this State and its 
political subdivisions may not create or recognize a legal status 
for 
relationships 
of 
unmarried 
individuals 
that 
intends 
to 
approximate 
the design, 
qualities, 
significance or effect of 
marriage.