Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1552
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: FINCH, JOY, PEOPLES

Legislative Document 
No. 1552 
H.P.1077 
House of Representatives, March 20, 2007 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Provide for the Reduction in the Size of the Legislature 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative FINCH of Fairfield. 
1l/~/J7.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: JOY of Crystal, PEOPLES of Westbrook. 
Printed on recycled paper 
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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. IV, Pt. First, §2 is amended to read: 
Section 2. Number of Representatives; biennial terms; division of the State into 
districts for House of Representatives. The House of Representatives shall consist of 
members, except that, for the Legislature that convenes in 2009 and thereafter, the 
House of Representatives shall consist of 105 members, to be elected by the qualified 
electors, and hold their office 2 years from the day next preceding the first Wednesday in 
December following the general election. The Legislature which convenes in ~ 
2007 
and every 10th year thereafter shall cause the State to be divided into districts for the 
choice of one Representative for each district, using the same method as provided in 
Article IV, Part Second. Section 2 for apportionment of Senatorial Districts. except that 
each Senatorial District must be divided into 3 Representative Districts. The number of 
Representatives shall be divided into the number of inhabitants of the State exclusive of 
foreigners not naturalized according to the latest Federal Decennial Census or a State 
Census preyiousl)' ordered by the Legislature to coincide with the Fedeml Decennial 
Census, to determine a mean population figure fer each RepresentatiYe District. Each 
Representative District shall be formed of contiguous and compact territory and shall 
cross political subdivision lines the least number of times necessary to establish as nearly 
as practicable equally populated districts. 'Nhenever the population of a municipality 
entitles it to more than one district, all ,.vhole districts shall be drawn v. ithin municipal 
boundaries. Any population remainder '>'lithin the municipality shall be included in a 
district "'lith contiguous territory and shall be kept intact. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §1 is amended to read: 
Section 1. Number of Senators. The Senate shall consist of an odd number of 
Senators, not less than 31 nor more than 35, except that, for the Legislature that convenes 
in 2009 and thereafter, the Senate shall consist of 35 members, elected at the same time 
and for the same term as Representatives by the qualified electors of the districts into 
which the State shall be from time to time divided. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §2, first ~ is amended to read: 
Section 2. 
Submission of reapportionment plan to Secretary of Senate; 
Legislature's action on commission's plan; division of State into Senatorial Districts; 
division by Supreme Judicial Court. The Legislature which shall convene in the year 
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2007 and every 10th year thereafter shall cause the State to be divided into districts 
for the choice of a Senator from each district, using the same method as provided in 
Article IV, Part First, Section 2 for apportionment of Representative Districts. 
The 
number of Senators must be divided into the number of inhabitants of the State, exclusive 
of foreigners not naturalized according to the latest Federal Decennial Census or a State 
Census previously ordered by the Legislature to coincide with the Federal Decennial 
Census, to determine a mean population figure for each Senatorial District. 
Each 
Senatorial District must be formed of contiguous and compact territory and must cross 
Page I - 123LR0787(Ol)-1 
political subdivision lines the least number of times necessary to establish as nearly as 
practicable equally populated districts. 
Whenever the population of a municipality 
entitles it to more than one district, all whole districts must be drawn within municipal 
boundaries. Any population remainder within the municipality must be included in a 
district with contiguous territory and must be kept intact. 
; 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 held in the month of November 
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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 reduce the size of the House of 
Representatives from 151 members to 105 members and to establish in the 
Constitution of Maine the size of the Senate at 35 members effective in the year 
20097" 
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, tO\vn 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 a constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the House 
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of Representatives from 151 members to 105 members and to establish in the 
Constitution of Maine the size of the Senate at 35 members. The redistricting will be 
done in 2008 during the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature and the 
adjustments in the size of each legislative body take effect in 2009.