Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0664
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: BURNS, BARTLETT, BRAUTIGAM, CANAVAN, DRISCOLL, GROSE, HAYES, MAKAS, MAZUREK, WALCOTT

Legislative Document 
No. 664 
H.P.513 
House of Representatives, February 8, 2007 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Require That Members of the House and Senate Be 
Assigned Seats That Correlate with Each Member's District for the 
Purpose of Enhancing Communications and Reducing the 
Perception of Partisan Gridlock 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BURNS of Berwick. 
Cosponsored by Senator BARTLETT of Cumberland and 
7rJj;~ 1/1. 7J?dC~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BRAUTIGAM of Falmouth, CANAVAN of Waterville, DRISCOLL of 
Westbrook, GROSE of Woolwich, HAYES of Buckfield, MAKAS of Lewiston, MAZUREK 
of Rockland, WALCOTT of Lewiston. 
Printed 011 recycled paper 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: 
Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendments 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, 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 1983 and every 10th year thereafter shall cause the 
State to be divided into districts for the choice of one Representative for each district. 
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 previously ordered by the Legislature to coincide with the 
Federal Decennial Census, to determine a mean population figure for each Representative 
.. 
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. Whenever the population of 
a municipality entitles it to more than one district, all whole districts shall be drawn 
within municipal boundaries. Any population remainder within the municipality shall be 
included in a district with contiguous territory and shall be kept intact. 
A member must be assigned a seat that correlates with that member's district. 
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, 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. 
A member must be assigned a seat that correlates with that member's district. 
; 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 
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 require that members of the 
Senate and the House of Representatives be assigned seats that correlate with each 
member's district for the purpose of enhancing communications and reducing the 
perception of partisan gridlock?" 
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 
Page I - 123LR0483(OI)-1 
.. 
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 
ofthis resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
SUMMARY 
This constitutional resolution requires that members of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives be assigned seats that correlate with each member's distric.t.