Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1718
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: BABBIDGE, SULLIVAN, BEAULIEU, CANAVAN, CONNOR, JOY

Legislative Document 
No. 1718 
H.P.1201 
House of Representatives, March 23, 2007 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Reduce the Size of the Legislature 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BABBIDGE of Kennebunk. 
Cosponsored by Senator SULLIVAN of York and 
If/~/J?~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BEAULIEU of Auburn, CANAVAN of Waterville, CONNOR of Kennebunk, 
JOY of Crystal. 
Printed on recycled paper 
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, Part 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 2015 and thereafter, the 
House of Representatives shall consist of 132 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 +9&J 2013 
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. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Part 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 2015 and thereafter, the Senate shall consist of 33 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, Part 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 
+9&J 2013 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. Each 
Senatorial District must be composed by the combination of 4 Representative Districts. 
; 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 reduce the size of the House of 
Representatives from 151 members to 132 members and to limit the size of the 
Senate from no more than 35 members to 33 members, effective in the year 2015?" 
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 furni~;h 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 
of Representatives from 151 members to 132 members and the size of the Senate from no 
more than 35 members to 33 members. The reduction in the size of each legislative body 
takes effect in 2015.