Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1424
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: VALENTINO, JACKSON, ADAMS, MARTIN, PENDLETON, SCHATZ, SMITH, TREAT, TUTTLE, MILLS

Legislative Document 
No. 1424 
H.P.1000 
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House of Representatives, April 7, 2009 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Establish a Unicameral Legislature 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative VALENTINO of Saco. 
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and 
71/!v~ 1?1.11!I!£~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: ADAMS of Portland, MARTIN of Eagle Lake, PENDLETON of 
Scarborough, SCHATZ of Blue Hill, SMITH of Monmouth, TREAT of Hallowell, TUTTLE of 
Sanford, Senator: MILLS of Somerset. 
PrintL'd llil I'\!'~ t:!.:d 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. II, § 1, first ~ is amended to read: 
. Section 1. 
Qualifications of electors; written ballot; military service 
members; students. Every citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years imd 
upwards, excepting persons under guardianship for reasons of mental illness, having 
his or her residence established in this State, shall be an elector for Governor, 
Senators and Representatives, members of the Legislature in the city, town or 
plantation where his or her that person's residence has been established, if he or she 
that person continues to reside in this State; and the elections5hall must be by written 
ballot. But persons in the military, naval or marine service of the United States, or 
this State, 5hall are not be considered as having obtained· such established residence 
by being stationed in any garrison, barrack or military place, in any city, town or 
plantation; nor 5hall does the residence of a student at any seminary of learning 
entitle the student to the right of suffrage in the city, town or plantation where such 
seminary is established. 
No person, however, shall be is deemed to have lost 
residence by reason of the person's absence from the state in the military service of 
the United States, or of this State. 
·Constitution, Art. II, §4 is amended to read: 
Section 4. Time of state election; absentee voting. The election of Senators 
and Representatives shall be members of the Legislature is on the Tuesday following 
the first Mpnday of November biennially forever and the election of Governor shall 
be on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November every 4 years. The 
Legislature under proper enactment shall authorize and provide for voting by citizens 
of the State absent therefrom in the Armed Forces of the United States or of this State 
and for voting by other citizens absent or physically incapacitated for reasons deemed 
sufficient. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. First, §9 is enacted to read: 
Section 9. Operation of Part. The provisions of this Part that conflict with Part 
Fourth are of no effect and this Part is repealed upon the convening of the Legislature 
in December 2014. 
ConstitutiOn, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §9 is enacted to read: 
Section 9. Operation of Part. The provisions of this Part that conflict with Part 
Fourth are of no effect and this Part is repealed upon the convening of the Legislature 
in December 2014. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §§1 to 7 are amended to read: 
Section 1. To meet annually; power of Legislature to convene itself at other 
times; extent of legislative power.. The Legislature shall convene on the first 
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Wednesday of December following the general election in what shall be ill designated 
the first regular session of the Legislature; and shall further convene on the first 
Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January in the subsequent even-numbered year 
in what shall be is designated the second regular session of the Legislature; provided, 
however, that the business of the second regular session of the Legislature shall be ill 
limited to budgetary matters; legislation in the Governor's call; legislation of an 
emergency nature admitted by the Legislature; legislation referred to committees for 
study and report by the Legislature in the first regular session; and legislation 
presented to the Legislature by written petition of the electors under the provisions of 
Article N, Part Third,Section 18. +he Before December 3,2014, the Legislature 
shall enact appropriate statutory limits on the length of the first regular session and of 
the second regular session. The Legislature may convene at such other times on the 
call of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, with the consent of a 
majority of the Ivlembers members of the Legislature of each political pmiy, all 
Members members of the Legislature having been first polled. 
On and after 
December 3, '2014, the Legislature may convene at such other times on the call of the 
Presiding Officer of the Legislature, with the consent of a majority of the Senators of 
each political party, all Senators having been first polled. The Legislature, with the . 
exceptions hereinafter stated, shall have has the full power to make and estaj)lish all 
reasonable laws and regulations for the defense and benefit of the people of this State, 
not repugnant to this Constitution, nor to that of the United States. 
Section I-A. Legislature to establish Apportionment Commission; number 
of quorum; compensation of commission -members; commission's budget; 
division among political parties. A Legislature wh:ieh that is required to apportion 
the districts of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or both, under Article N, 
Part First, Section 2, or Article N,' Part Second, Section 2, shall establish, within the 
first 3 calendar days after the convening of that Legislature, a commission to develop 
in accordance with the requirements of this Constitution, a plan for apportioning the 
House of Representatives, the Senate, or both. 
The commission shall be is composed of 3 members from the poJjtical party 
holding the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives, who shall be are 
appointed by the Speaker; 3 members from the political party holding the majority of 
the remainder of the seats in the House of Representatives, who shall be are 
appointed by the floor leader of that party in the House; 2 members of the party 
holding the largest number of seats in the Senate, who shall be are appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 2 members of the political party holding the majority of the 
remainder of the seats ~ the Senate, to be appointed by the floor leader of that party 
in the Senate; the chairperson chair of each of the 2 major political parties in the State 
or their designated representatives; and 3 members from the public generally, one to 
be selected by each group of members of the commission representing the same 
political party, and the third 3rd to be selected by the other 2 public members. The 
Speaker of the House shall be ill responsible for organizing the commission and sha±l 
be chairperson is chair pro tempore thereof until a permanent chairperson chair is 
selected by the commission members from among their own number. We An action 
may not be taken without a quorum of 8 being present. The commission shall hold 
public hearings on any plan for apportiomnent prior to submitting 5-1:l6h that plan to 
the Legislature. 
Public members of the commission shall receive the same rate of per diem that is 
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paid to Legislators for everyday's attendance at special sessions of the Legislature as 
defined by law. All members of the commission shall be reimbursed are entitled to 
reimbursement for actual travel expensesincun-ed in carrying out the business of the 
commission. The Legislature~ which- is required to apportion~ shall establish a budget 
for the apportioning commission within the state budget document in the -fiscal year 
previous to the fiscal year during which the apportioning commission is required to 
convene and shall appropriate sufficient funds for the commission to satisfactorily 
perfonn its duties and resporisibilities. The budget 5hall must include sufficient funds 
to compensate the chairPerson chair of the commission and the chairperson's chair's 
staff. 
The remainder of the appropriation 5hall must be made available equally 
among the political parties represented on the commission to provide travel expenses, 
incidental expenses and compensation for commission members and for partisan staff 
and operations. TIns section does not apply on or after December 3,2014. 
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_ Section 2. 
Bills to be signed by the Governor; proceedings, in case the 
Governor disapproves; allowing the Governor 10 days to· act on legislation. 
Every bill or resolution, having the force of law, to which the concurrence of both 
H;ouses may be approval of the Legislature is necessary, except on a question of 
adjourmnent, ""hich shall have that has passed both Houses before December 3,2014, 
or the Legislature on or after December 3, 2014, 5hall must be presented to the 
- Governor, and if. If the Governor approves, the Governor shall sign it; if not,. Before _ 
December 3, 2014, if the Governor does not approve and sign the measure, the 
Governor shall return it with objections to the House in wInch it shall have-
originate,?, wlllch shall enter the objections at large on its journals, journal and 
proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration; 2/3 of that House shall agree 
agrees to pass it, it shall be sent together with the objections, to the other House, by 
which it shall be reconsidered, and, ifapproved by 2/3 of that House, it shall have has 
the same effect as if it had been signed by the Governor; but in all such cases, the 
votes of both Houses shall be taken by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons, 
voting for and against the bill or resolution,.sha-ll must be entered on the journals of 
both Houses respectively. On or after December 3, 2014, if the Governor does not 
approve and sign the measure, the Governor shall return it with objections to the 
Legislature, wlllch shall enter the objections at large on its journal and proceed to 
reconsider it. If, after reconsideration, 2/3 of the Legislature agrees to pass it, it has 
the same effect as if it had been signed by the Governor; but in all such cases, the 
votes of the Legislature must be taken by yeas and nays and the names of the persons 
voting for and against the bill or resolution must be entered on the journaL If the bill 
or resolution shali i§. not be returned by the Governor within 10 days (Sundays 
excepted) after it shall have has been presented to the Governor, it shall have has the 
same force and effect as if the Governor had signed it unless the Legislature by their 
its adjourmnent prevent prevents its return, in which case it shall have such has that 
same force and effect, unless returned within 3 days after the next meeting of the 
same Legislature wfrieh that enacted the bill or resolution; if there is no such next 
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meeting of the Legislature wffi€l:J: that enacted the bill or resolution, the bill or 
resolution shall does not be-a become law. 
Section 2-A .. Line-item veto of dollar amounts appearing in appropriation or 
allocation sections of legislative documents. 
The Governor has power to 
disapprove any dollar amount appearing in an "appropriation section or allocation 
section, or both, of an enacted legislative document. Unless the Governor exercises 
the line-item veto power authorized in this section no later than one day after 
receiving for signature the enacted legislation, the powers of the Governor as set out 
in section 2 apply to the entire enacted legislation. 
For any disapproved dollar 
amount, the Governor shall replace the dollar amount with one that does not result in 
~m increase in an appropriation or allocation or a decrease in a deappropriation or 
deallocation. 
When disapproving a dollar amount pursuant to this section, the 
Governor may not propose an increase in an appropriation or allocation elsewhere in 
the legislative document. The Governor shall specify the distinct dollar amounts that 
are revised, and the pali or parts of the legislative document not specifically revised 
become law. The dollar amounts in an appropriation or allocation that have been 
disapproved become law as revised by the Governor, unless passed over the 
Governor's veto by the Legislature as the dollar amounts originally appeared in the 
enacted bill as presented to the Governor; except that, notwithstanding any other 
provision of this Constitution for dollar amounts vetoed pursuant to this section, 
before December 3, 2014 a majority of all the erected members in each House is 
sufficient to override the veto and on or after December 3,2014 a majority of all the 
elected Senators is sufficient to override the veto, and each dollar amount vetoed 
must be voted on separately to override the veto. Except as provided in this section, 
the Governor may not disapprove, omit or modify any language allocated to the 
statutes or appearing in an unallocated section oflaw. 
Section 3. The judge of its elections; majority, a quorum. Each House shall -
:00 is, and on or after December 3, 2014, the Legislature is the judge of the elections 
and qualifications of its own members, and a majority shall constitute constitutes a 
quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may 
compel the attendance of absent members, in such marmer and under such penalties 
as each House, andon or after December 3,2014, the Legislature shall provide. 
Section 4. May punish and expel members. Each House, and on or after 
December 3, 2014, the Legislature may detenrune the rules of its proceedings, punish 
its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of 2/3 expel a 
member, but not a 2nd time for the same cause. 
Section 5. Shall keep a journal; yeas and nays. Each House, and on or after 
December 3,2014, the Legislature shall keep a journal, and from time to time publish 
. its proceedings, except such parts as in their judgment may require secrecy; and the 
yeas and nays of the members of either House, and on or after December 3, 2014, the 
Legislature on any question.,-Shald must, at the desire of 1/5 _ of those present, be 
entered on the iournals journal. 
Section 6. May punish for contempt. Each House, and on or after December 3, 
2014, the Legislature, during its-session, may punish by imprisOnment any person, 
not a member, for disrespectful or disorderly behavior il1 its presence, for obstructing 
any of its proceedings, threatening, assaulting or abusing any of its members for 
anything said, done, or d~ing in either House, and on or after December 5,2012, the 
Legislature; provided, that no imprisonment Mal-!- may extend beyond the period of 
the same session. 
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Section 7. 
Compensation; traveling expenses. 
This section applies to 
compensation and expenses before December 3, -2014. The Senators and 
Representatives -shalt are entitled to receive such compensation, as shall beiE. 
established by law; but no law increasing their compensation -shalt may take effect 
during the existence of the Legislature, ""hiob that enacted it. The expenses of the 
members of the House of Representatives in traveling to the Legislature, and 
returning therefrom from the Legislature, once in each week of each session and no 
more, -shalt must be paid by the State out of the public treasury to every member, who 
shall seasonablyattend, in the judgment of the House, and does not depart therefrom 
from the Legislature without leave. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §7-A is enacted to read: 
Section 7-A. 
Compensation; traveling expenses. 
This· section applies to 
. compensation and expenses on or after December 3,2014. The Senators are entitled 
to receive such compensation as is established by law; but no law increasing their 
compensation may take effect during the existence of the Legislature that enacted it. 
The expenses of the Senators in traveling to the Legislature, and returning from the 
Legislature, once in each week of each session and no more; must be paid by the 
State out of the public treasury to every Senator, who shall seasonably attend, in the 
judgment of the Legislature and does not depart from the Legislature without leave. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §8 is amended to read: 
Section 8. Members exempt from arrest; freedom of debate.· This section 
applies before December 3; 2014. The Senators and Representatives -shalt are, in all 
cases except treason, felony or breach of the peace, Be privileged from arrest during 
their attendance at, going to, and returning from each session of the Legislature, and 
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no member shall be iE. liable to answer for anything spoken in debate in either House, 
in any court or place elsewhere. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §8-A is enacted to read: 
Section 8-A. Senators exempt from arrest; freedom of debate. This section 
applies on or after December 3, 2014. The Senators are, in all cases except treason, 
felony or breach of the peace, privileged from arrest during their attendance at, going 
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to, and returning from each session of the Legislature, and no Senator is liable to 
answer for anything spoken in debate· in the Legislature, in any court· or place 
elsewhere.· 
Constitution, Art.. IV, Pt. Third, §9 is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
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This section does not apply on or after December 3, 2014. 
_ Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §10 is amended to read~ 
Section 10. Members not to be appointed to certain offices. This section 
applies before December 3, 2014. No Senator or Representative shall may, during the 
term for which the Senator or Representative shall have has been elected, be 
appointed to any civil office of profit under this State, which that requires the 
approval of the Legislature for appointment or which shall have that has been created, 
or the emoluments of which increased during -5H6h that term, except such offices as 
may be filled by elections by the people. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §10-A is enacted to read: 
Section 10-A. Senators not to be appointed to certain offices. This section 
applies on or after December 3,2014. No Senator may, during the term for which the 
Senator has been elected, be appointed to any civil office of profit under this State 
that requires the approval of the Legislature for appointment or that has been created, 
or the emoluments of which increased during that tenn, except such offices as may be 
filled by elections by the people. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §§11 and 12 are amended to read: 
Section 11. Persons disqualified to' be members. No member of Congress, nor 
person holding any office under the United States (post officers excepted) nor office 
of profit under this State, justices of the peace, notaries public, coroners and officers 
of the militia excepted, shall may have a seat in either House the Legislature while a 
member of Congress, or continuing in such office. 
Section 12. Adjournments. Neither House shall dUling the session, without the 
consent of the other, adjourn for more than 2 days, nor to any other place than that in 
which the Houses shall be are sitting and, on or after. December 3, 2014, the 
Legislature may not adjourn for more than 2 days, nor to any other place than that in 
which the Legislature is sitting. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, .§§15 and 16 ar~ amended to read: 
Section 15. 
Constitutional conventions. The Legislature shall-, by a 2/3 
concurrent vote of both branches or, have on or after December 3,2014, by a 2/3 vote 
of the Legislature has the power to call constitutional conventions, for the purpose of 
, amending this Constitution: 
Section 16. 
Acts become effective in 90 days after recess; exception; 
emergency bill defined. No Act or j-effit resolution of the Legislature, except such 
orders or resolutions as pertain solely to facilitating the performance of the business 
of the Legislature, of either branch, -or of any committee or officer thereof, or 
appropriate money therefor or for the payment of salaries fixed by law, shall take 
takes effect until 90 days after the recess of the session of the Legislature in which.it 
was passed, unless in case of emergency, in which with case the facts constituting the 
emergency shall must be expressed in the preamble of the Act, the Legislature shall; 
by a vote of 2/3 of all the members elected to each House, or, on or after December 3, 
2014, by a 2/3 vote of those elected to the Legislature otherwise ffi:£:eet directs. An 
emergency bill sflat± may include only such measures as are immediately necessary 
for the preservation of the public peace, healthbr safety.;. and shall may not include 
fB an infringement of the right of home rule for municipalities, f21 a franchise or a 
license to a corporation or an individual to extend longer than orie year, or ~ 
provision for the sale or purchase or renting for more than 5 years of real estate. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §18, sub-§l, as amended by CR 2005, c. 
2, is further amended to read: 
1. Petition procedure. The _ electors may propose to the Legislature for its 
consideration any bill, resolve or· resolution, including bills to amend or repeal 
emergency h!gislation but not an amendment of the State Constitution, by written 
petition addressed to the Legislature or, until December 2, 2014, to either branch 
thereof and filed in the office of the Secretary of State by the hour of 5 :00 p.m., on or 
before the 50th day after the date of convening of the Legislature in first regular 
session or on or before the 25th day after the date of convening of the Legislature in 
of the Secretary of State later than 18 months after the date the petition form was 
furnished or approved by the Secretary of State. If the applicable deadline falls on a 
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Saturday, Sunday, odegal holiday, the per:iod runs until the hour of 5 :00 p.m., of the 
next day wfH.eh that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Fourth is enacted to read: 
24. 
Article IV 
Part Fourth 
Unicameral Legislature 
Section 1. Legislative department; style of acts. Notwithstanding Part First 
and Part, Second, beginning with the first regular session of the Legislature that 
convenes in December 2014, the legislative authority of the State is vested in a 
. Legislature consisting of one chamber, but the people reserve to themselves power to 
propose laws and enact or reject the same at the polls independent of the Legislature 
and reserve the power to approve or reject at the polls any act, bill, resolve or 
resolution proposed by the Legislature and the style of the laws and acts must be "Be 
it enacted by the People of the State of Maine." 
All authority vested by this 
Constitution or laws of the State in .the Senate, House of Representatives or joint 
session of those Houses, insofar as applicable, is vested in the one-chamber 
Legislature. All provisions in the laws of the State relating to the Legislature, the 
Senate and House of Representatives,· joint sessions of the Seriate and House of 
Representatives, Senators or members of the House of Representatives, insofar as 
such provisions are applicable, apply to and, mean the one-chamber Legislature 
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established by this section. All references to Clerk of the House of Representatives 
or Secretary of the Senate mean, when applicable, Clerk of the Legislature. All 
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references to the Speaker of the House of Representatives or President of the Senate 
mean the Presiding Officer of the Legislature. 
When any provision. of this 
Constitution or the law requires the submission of any matter to or action by the 
House of Representatives, the Senate or joint session of those Houses, or the 
members of either body or both, after December 2014, that provision is amended to 
mean and must be construed to refer to the one-chamber Legislature. 
At the beginning of each first regular session the Legislature shall elect from its· 
membership a presiding officer. 
Section 2. Number of members. The Legislature consists of 105 Senators who 
are elected by the qualified electors and serve terms of 2 years from the day next 
. preceding the first Wednesday in December following a general election. 
The 
Legislature that convenes in the year 2012 and every 10th year thereafter shall cause 
the State to be divided into districts for the choice of one Senator for each district. 
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 median population figure for each member 
district. Each member district must be formed of continuous and compact territory 
and cross political subdivision lines the least number of times necessary to establish 
as nearly as practicable equally populated districts. 
If 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 drawn to cross the muniCipal boundary, provided that 
the population remainder of the municipality is contiguous to another municipality or 
municipalities included In the' district. 
Section 3. Legislature to establish apportionment commission; number of 
quorum; compensation of commission members; commission's budget; division 
among political parties., A Legislature that is required to apportion the districts of 
the Legislature under this Part, Section 2 shall establish, within the first 3 calendar 
days after the convening of that Legislature, a commission to develop a plan for 
apportioning the Legislature in accordance with the requirements of this Constitution. 
, Except for the commission established by the LegislahIre that convenes in 2012, 
the commission is composed of 5 Senators from the political party holding the largest 
number of seats in the Legislature, who are appointed by the Presiding Officer of the 
Legislature; 5 Senators from the political party holding the majority of the remainder 
of the seats in the Legislature, who are appointed by the floor leader of that party in 
the Legislature; the chair of each of the 2 major political parties in the State or their 
designated representatives; and 3 members from the public generally, one selected by 
each group of members of the commission representing the same political party and 
the 3rd selected by the other 2 public members. For the commission established by 
the Legislature that convenes in 2012, the commission is 'composed of 3 members 
from the political party holding the largest number of seats in the House of 
Representatives, who are appointed by the Speaker; 3 members from the political 
party holding the majority of the remairider of the seats' in, the House of 
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24. 
Representatives,· who are appointed by the floor leader of that party in the H~use; 2 
. members of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Senate, who are 
appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members of the political party holding the 
majority of the remainder of the seats in the Senate, to be appointed by the floor 
leader of that party in the Senate; the chair of each of the 2 major political parties in 
the State or their designated representatives; arid 3 members from the public 
generally, one to be selected· by each group of members of the commission 
representing the same political party, and the 3rd to be selected by the other 2 public 
members. The Presiding Officer of the Legislature is responsible for organizing the 
commission and is chair pro tempore until a permanent chair is selected by the 
commission members from among their own number, except that for the Legislature 
that convenes in 2012, the Speaker of the House has these responsibilities. An action 
may not be taken without a quorum of 8 being present. The commission shall hold 
public hearings on any plan for apportionment prior to submitting such a plan to the 
Legislature. 
Public members of the commission are entitled to the same rate of per diem that 
is paid to Senators for every day's attendance at special sessions of the Legislature as 
defIned by law. All· members of the commission are reimbursed for actual travel. 
expenses incurred in carrying out the business of the commission. The Legislature 
that is required to apportion shall establish a budget for the apportioning commission 
within the state budget document in the fIscal year previous to the fIscal year during 
which the apportioning commission is required to convene and shall appropriate 
suffIcient funds for the commission to satisfactorily perform its duties and 
responsibilities. The budget must include sufficient funds to comperisate the chair of 
the commission and the chair's staff. The remainder of the appropriation must be 
made available equally among the political parties represented on the commission to 
provide travel expenses, incidental expenses and compensation for commission 
members and for partisan staff and operations. 
Section 4. Submission of reapportionment plan to Clerk of the Legislature; 
Legislature's action on commission's plan. 
The apportionment plan of the 
commission established under this Part, Section 3 must be submitted to the Clerk of 
the Legislature no later than 120 calendar days after the convening of the Legislature 
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in which apportionment is required. In the preparation of legislation implementing 
the plan, the commission, following a unanimous decision by commission members, 
may adjust errors and inconsistencies in accordance with the standards set forth in 
this Constitution, so long as substantive changes are not made. The Legislature shall 
. enact the submitted ~plan of the commission or a plan of its own by a vote of 2/3 of 
the Senators within 30 calendar days after the plan of the commission is submitted. 
Such action is subject to the Governor's approval as provided in Article N, Part 
Third, Section 2. 
In the event that the Legislature fails to make an apportionment within 130 
calendar days after convening, the Supreme Judicial Court, within 60 days following 
the period in which the Legislature is required to act but fails to do so, shall make the 
apportionment. In making such an apportionment, the Supreme Judicial Court shall 
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take into consideration plans and briefs filed by the public with the court during the 
first 30 days of the period in which the court is required to ajmortion. 
The Supr~me Judicial Court has original jurisdiction to hear any challenge to an 
apportionment law enacted by the Legislature, as registered by any citizen or group 
of citizens. If any challenge is sustained, the Supreme Judicial Court shall make the. 
apportiOlIDlent. 
Section 5. Residency requirement; age. A person may not be a Senator unless 
the person at the commencement of the period for which the person is elected has 
been 5 years a citizen of the United S'tates, has reached the age of 21 years, has been 
a resident in this State one year and for the 3 months next preceding the time of the 
person's election has been and, during the period' for which elected, continues to be a 
resident in the district that the person represents. 
A person"may not be a candidate for election as a Senator unless, at the time. of 
the nomination for placement on the primary,· general or special election ballot, that 
person is a resident in the district that the candidate seeks to represent. 
Section 6. Election of Senator; lists of votes delivered immediately; lists of 
. votes examined by Governor; summons of persons who appear to be elected; 
lists laid before the Legislature. The meetings within this State for the choice of a 
Senator must be warned in due course of law by qualified officials of the several 
towns and cities 7 days at least before the election and the election officials of the 
various towns and cities shall preside impartially at these meetings, receive the votes 
of all the qualified electors and sort, count and declare them in open meeting. A list 
of the persons' voted for must be 'prepared with the number of votes for each person 
against that person's name. Cities and towns belonging to any legislative district shall 
hold their meetings at the same time in the respective cities and towns and· the 
meetings must be announced, held and regulated and the votes received, sorted, 
counted and declared in the same manner. Fair copies of the lists of votes must be 
attested by the municipal officers and the clerks of the cities and towns and the city 
and town clerks respectively shall deliver those copies into the office of the Clerk of 
the Legislature immediately. The Governor shall examine the retUrned copies of the 
lists and, 7 days before the first Wednesday of December biennially, shall issue a 
summons to the persons who appear to have been elected by a plurality of all votes 
returned to attend and take their seats. 
All the lists must be laid before the 
Legislature on the first Wednesday of December biennially and the Legislature shall 
finally determine who is elected. 
Section 7. To choose own officers; power of impeachment. The Legislature 
shall choose its own clerk and other officers and has the power to try all 
impeachments and, when sitting for that purpose, must be on oath or affumation, and 
.a person may not be convicted without the concurrence of 2/3 of the members 
present. 
The judgment of the members, however, may not extend farther than 
removal from office and disqualification to hold or enjoy any office of honor, trust or 
profit in this State.' Theparty, whether convicted or acquitted, is nevertheless liable 
to indictment, trial, iudgment and punishnient according to law. 
16. 
Section 8. Vacancies. Whenever the seat of a Senator is vacated by death, 
resignation or otherwise, the vacancy may be filled by a new election, except that if 
there is 8 months OLmore remaining in the Senate tetro, the vacancy must be filled by 
an immediate election in the unrepresented district: 
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Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §3 is amended to read: 
Section 3. Election; votes to be returned to Secretary of State; Secretary of 
State to lay lists before the Senate and House of Representatives; provision in 
case of tie. This section applies before December 3, 2014. The meetings for election 
of Govern,or sltaH must be notified announced, held and regulated and votes sltaH 
must be received, sorted, counted and declared and recorded, in the same manner as 
those for Senators and Representatives. Copies of lists of votes sltaH must be sealed 
imd returned to the secretary's office in the same manner and at the same time as 
those for Senators. The Secretary of State for the time being shall, on the first 
Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January then next, lay the lists returned to the 
secretary's office before the Senate and House of Representatives to be by thern ' 
examined, together with the ballots cast if they so elect: and they shall determine the 
number of votes duly cast for the office of Governor, and in case of a. choice by 
plurality of all of the votes returned they shall declare and publish the same. If there 
shall be ~ a tie between the 2 persons having the large~t number of votes for 
Governor, the House of Representatives and the Senate meeting in joint session, and 
each member of said bodies having a single vote, shall elect one of sate the 2 persons 
having so received an· equal number of votes and the person so elected by the Senate 
, and House of Representatives shall be ~ declared the Governor. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §3-A is enacted to read: 
Section 3-A.Election; votes to be returned to Secretary of State; Secretary 
of State to lay lists before the Legislature; provision in case of tie. This section 
applies on or after December 3,2014. The meetings for election of Governor must be 
announced, held and regulated and votes must be received, sorted, counted and 
declared and recorded, in the same manner as those for Senators. Copies of lists of 
votes must be sealed and returned to the secretary's office in the same manner and at 
the same time as those for Senators. The Secretary of State for the time being shall, 
on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January then next, lay the lists 
returned to the secretary's office before the Senate to be by them examined, together 
with the ballots cast if they so elect, and they shall determine the number of votes 
duly cast for the office of Governor, and in case of a choice by plurality of all of the 
votes returned they shall declare and publish the same. If there is a tie between the 2 
persons having the largest number of votes for Governor, the Senate meeting in 
session and each member having a single vote, shall elect one of the 2 persons having 
so received an equal number of votes and the person so elected by the Senate is 
declared the Governor. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §8, first ~is amended to read: 
Section 8. To appoint officers. This section applies to appointments rnade 
before December 3, 2014. The Governor shall nominate, and, subject to cOnfirmation 
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as provided herein, appoint all judicial officers, except judges of probate and justices 
of the peace if their manner of selection is otherwise provided for by this Constitution 
or by law, qnd all other civil and military officers whose appointment is not by this 
Constitution, or shall not by law be otherwise provided for. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §8-A is enacted to read: 
Section 8-A. To appoint officers. TIllS section applies to appointments made 
on or after December 3, 2014. 
The Governor shall nominate and, subject to 
confirmation as provided in this section, appoint all judicial officers· except judges of 
probate and justices of the peace if their maImer of selection is otherwise provided for 
by this Constitution or by law. and all other civil and nlilitary officers whose 
appointment is not by this Constitution or is not by law otherwise provided for. 
Procedure for confirmation. The procedure for confirmation is an appropriate 
legislative committee recommendation or denial by majority vote of. committee 
members present and voting. The committee recommendation is reviewed by the 
Legislature and upon review becomes final action of confirmation or denial unless 
the Legislature by vote of 2/3 of those Senators present and voting overrides the 
committee recommendation. The vote must be by the yeas and nays. 
Affirmative vote of 2/3 of members required. 
All laws to carry out the 
purposes of this section require the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Senators present and 
voting. 
Governor or Presiding Officer may call Legislature into session. Either the 
Governor or the Presiding Officer of the Le'gislature has the power to, call the 
Legislature into session for the purpose of voting upon confirmation of appointments. 
Nomination by Governor made 7 days prior to appointment of nominee. 
Every nomination by the Governor must be made 7 days prior to appointment of the 
nominee. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §13 is amended to read: 
Section 13. 
Convene, the Legislature on extraordinary occasions, and 
adjourn it in case of disagreement; may change the place of meeting., The 
Governor may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the Legislature;- and, until 
December 3, 2014 in case of disagreement between the 2 Houses with respect to the 
time of adjournment, adjourn them to such time, as the Governor shall think 
determines proper, not beyond the day of the next regular session;, and" if, since the 
last adjournment, the place where the Legislature were next t9 convene shall have has 
become dangerous from an enemy or contagious siclmess, may direct the session to 
be held at some other convenient place within the State. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §14, first ~ is amended to read: 
Section ·14. 
Vacancy, how, supplied. 
This section applies· on or before 
December 3, 2014. Whenever the office of Governor shall become vacant because of 
.3 
the death, resignation or removal of a Governor in office, . or any other cause, the 
President of the Senate shall assume the office of Governor until another Governor 
shall be duly qualified. When the vacancy occurs more than 90 days preceding the 
date of the primary election for nominating candidates to be voted for at the biermial 
election next succeeding, the. President of the Senate shall assume the office. of 
Governor until the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January following the 
biermial election. At the biermial election, a Governor shall be elected to tilt the 
unexpired term created by the vacancy. When the vacancy occurs less than 90 days 
preceding the date of a primary election the President of the Senate shall fill the 
unexpired term. 
Constitution, Art. V,Pt. First, §14-A is enacted to read: 
Section 14-A. 
Vacancy: how supplied. 
This section applies on or after 
December 3,2014. If the office of Governor becomes vacant because of the death, 
resignation or removal of a Governor in office or any other cause, the Presiding 
Officer of the Legislature shall assume the office of Governor until another Governor 
is duly qualified. When the vacancy occurs more than 90 days preceding the date of 
the primaty election for nominating candidates to be voted for at the biermial election 
next succeeding, the Presiding Officer of the Legislature shall assume the office of 
Governor until the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of January following the 
bierinial election. At the biermial election, a Governor must be elected to fill the 
unexpired term created by the vacancy. When the vacancy occurs If:ss than 90 days 
preceding the date of a primary election, the Presiding Officer of the Legislature shall 
fill the unexpired term. 
If the offices of Governor and Presiding Officer of the Legislature are vacant at 
the same time, the person acting as Secretary of State at that time shall exercise the 
office of Governor and by proclamation convene the Legislature and the Legislature 
shall fill the vacancy in the office of the Presiding Officer of the Legislature and 
choose a person who shall assume the office of Governor for the same tenn and under 
the same conditions as the Presiding Officer of the Legislature. 
. 
-Mental or physical disability of the Governor continuously for more than .6 
months. If for more than 6 months a Governor in office has been continuously 
unable to discharge the powers· and duties of that office because of mental or physical 
disability, the office of Governor is deemed vacant. The vacancy must be declared 
by the Supreme Judicial Court upon prcsentmenl to it of a resolution declaring the 
reason for the vacancy, adopted by a vote of 2/3 of Senators, and upon notice, and a 
hearing before the court and a decision by a majority of the court that reason exists 
for declaring the office vacant. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §15, first ~ is amended to read: 
Section 15. Temporary mental or physical disability of Governor. This 
section applies before December 3, 2014. Whenever the Governor is unable to 
discharge the powers and duties of that office because of mental or physical 
42· 
disability, the, President of the Senate, or if that office is vacant, the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, shall exercise the powers and duties of the office Of 
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. Governor until the Goverpor is again able to discharge the powers and duties of that 
office, or until the office of Governor is declared to be vacant or until another 
Governor. shall be duly qualified. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §15-A is enacted to read: 
Section IS-A. Temporary mental or physical disability of Governor. 
This 
section applies on or after December 3, 2014. If the Governor is unable to discharge 
the powers· and duties· of the office of Governor because of mental or physical 
disability, the Presiding Officer of the Legislature shall exercise the powers and 
duties of the office of Governor until the Governor is again able to discharge the 
powers and duties of that office or until the office of Governor is declared vacant or 
until another Governor is duly qualified. 
If the Governor is unable to discharge the powers and duties of that office, the 
Governor may so certify to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and upon 
notice from the Chief Justice, the Presiding Officer of the Legislature shall exercise 
the powers and duties of the office of Governor until such time as the Governor 
certifies to the Chief Justice that the Governor is able to discharge those powers and 
duties and the Chief Justice shall so notify the officer who is exercising the powers 
and duties of the office of Governor. 
. 
When the Secretary of State has reason to believe that the Governor is unable to 
discharge the duties of that office, the Secretary of State may so certify to the 
Supreme Judicial Court declaring the reason for such a belief. After notice to the 
Governor, a hearing before the court and a decision by a majority of the court that the 
Governor is unable to discharge the duties of the office of Governor, the court shall 
. notify the Presiding Officer of the Legislature of that inability and that officer shall' 
exercise the functions, powers and duties of the office of Governor until such time as 
the Secretary of State or the Governor certifies to the court that the Governor is able 
to discharge the duties of the office of Governor and the court, after notice to the 
Governor and a hearing before the· court, decides that the Governor is able· to 
discharge the duties of that office and so notifies the officer who is exercising the 
powers and duties of the office of Governor. 
If the Presiding Officer of the Legislature exercises the office of Governor; the 
officer is entitled to receive only the compensation of Governor and the officer's 
duties as Presiding Officer of the Legislature are suspended and the Legislature shall 
fill the vacancy resulting from that suspension until the officer ceases to exercise the 
office of Governor. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. Second, §§3 and 4 are amended to read: 
Section 3. Attend the Governor and Legislature. The Secretary of State shall 
attend the Governor, Senate and House of Representatives and the Legislature, in· 
person or by the deputies of the Secretary of State as they shall respectively require. 
Section 4. Records of executive and legislative departments. The Secretary of 
State shall carefully keep and preserve the records of all the official acts and 
proceedings of the Governor, Senate and House of' Representatives and the 
Legislature, and, when requifed, lay the same before either branch of the Legislature; 
and perform such other duties as are enjoined by this Constitution, or shall be are 
required by law. 
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. Third, §1 is amended to read: 
Section 1. Election. The Treasurer shall be chosen biennially, at the first 
session of the Legislature, by joint ballot of the Senators, and Representatives in 
convention, except that, beginning December 3, 2014, the Treasurer is chosen 
biennially by ballot at the first session of the Legislature. 
Constitution, Art. VI, §§3 and 4 are amended to read: 
Section 3. To give opinion when required. The Justices of the Supreme 
Judicial Court shall be obliged to give their opinion upon important questions of law, 
and upon solemn occasions, when required by the Governor, or, before December 3, 
2014, the Senate or House of Representatives, or, on or after December 3, 2014, the 
Legislature. 
Section 4. Tenure of judicial officers; 6-month holdover period. All judicial 
officers appointed by the Governor shall hold their offices for the term of 7 years 
from the time of their respective appointments (unless sooner removed by 
impeachment or by address of both branches of the Legislature to the executive, 
provided further except that justices of the peace may be removed from office in such 
manner as the Legislature may providey,. provided, however, that a judicial officer 
whose term of office has expired or who has reached mandatory retirement age, as 
provided by statute, may continue to hold office until the expiration of an additional 
period not to exceed 6 months or until the successor to the judiCial officer. is 
appointed, whichever occurs first in time. 
Constitution, Art. IX, § 1, last I'jT is amended to read: 
Administration of oaths to Governor, Legislators and other officers before 
28' 
December 3,2014. '+he Before December 3, 2014, the oaths or affmnations -shall' 
must be taken, and subscribed by the Governor before the presiding officer of the 
Senate, in the presence of both Houses of the Legislature, and by the Senat0rs and 
Representatives before the Governor, and by the residue of said officers before such 
persons as shall be are prescribed by the Legislature;. and whenever the Governor 
-shall i§. not Be able to attend during the session of the Legislature to take and 
subscri.be said oaths or affirmations, any such oaths or affirmations may be taken and 
subscribed in the recess of the Legislature before any Justice of the Supreme Judicial 
Court and provided further that, if the Governor shall be i§. unable to appear a,nd 
administer the oath to the Senators and Representatives, any such oaths -shall must be 
administered by the' Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court or,. in the absence of 
the Chief Justice, by the senior Associate Justice of saHj: the Supreme Judicial Court 
present at the State Capitol on the first day of the term for which said the Senators 
and Representatives -shall have been elected. 
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Constitution, Art. IX, §1, is amended by adding after the last paragraph a new 
paragraph to read: 
Administration of oaths to Governor, Senators and other officers on or after 
December 3,2014. Beginning December 3, 2014, the oaths or affirmations must be 
taken and subscribed by the Governor before the Presiding Officer of the Legislature, 
in the presence of the Legislature, and by the Senators before the Governor, and by 
the residue of said officers before such persons as are prescribed by the Legislature 
and whenever the Governor is not able to attend during the session of the Legislature 
to take and subscribe oaths or affirmations, any such oaths or affirmations may be 
taken and subscribed in the recess of the Legislature before any Justice of the 
Supreme Judicial Court and provided further that, if the Governor is unable to appear 
and administer the oath to the Senators, any such oaths must be administered by the 
Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court or, in the absence of the Chief Justice, by 
the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court present at the State Capitol 
on the first day of the term for which the Senators have been elected. 
Constitution, Art. IX, §§4 and 5 are amended to read: 
Section 4. Elections on the first Wednesday after first Tuesday of January 
may be adjourned from day to day. 
In case the elections, required by this 
Constitution on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday of Jariuary biennially, by 
the 2 Houses of the Legislature, shall are not be completed on that day, the same may 
be adjourned from day to day, until completed, in the following order: ~ 
Before 
December 3, 2014, vacancies in the Senate shall must first be filledr and the 
Governor shall must then be elected, if there be i.§. no choice by the people. On or 
after December 3,2014, vacancies in the Legislature must be filled first. 
Section 5. Removal by impeachment or address. Every person holding any 
civil office under this State, may be removed by impeachment, for misdemeanor in 
officer and every person holding any office, may be removed by the Governor on the 
address of both branches of the Legislature or, on or after December 3, 2014, of the 
Legislature. But before such address shall pass either House the causes of removal 
shall be stated and entered on the journal of the House in which it originated or, on or 
after December 3, 2014, of the Legislature, and a copy thereof of the bill of causes 
served on the person in office, that the person may be admitted to a hearing in that 
person's own defense. 
Constitution, Art. IX, §11 is amended to read: 
Section 11. Attorney Generai. The Attorney General shall be chosen biennially 
by joint ballot of the Senators and Representatives in convention, except that, 
beginning December 3,2014, the Attorney General is chosen biennially by hallot of 
the Senate. Vacancy in said office' occurring when the Legislature is not in session, 
may be filled by appointment by the Governor, subject to confirmation as required by 
tllls Constitution for Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court. 
Constitution, Art. IX, §§14, 20, 21 and 23 are amended to read: 
.6 
Sectjon 14. Authority and procedure for issuance of bonds. The credit of the 
State shall may not be directly or indirectly loaned in any case, except as provided in 
sections 14-A, 14-B, 14-C and 14-D. The Legislature shall may not create any debt 
or debts, liability or liabilities, on behalf of the State, which shall that singly, or in the 
aggregate, with previous debts and liabilities hereafter incurred at anyone time, 
exceed $2,000,000, except to suppress insurrection, to repel invasion; or for purposes 
of war; and except for temporary loans to be paid out of money raised by taxation 
during the fiscal year in which they are made, and except for loans to be repaid within 
months with federal transportation funds in amounts not to exceed 50% of 
transportation funds appropriated by the Federal Government in the prior federal 
. fiscal year; and excepting also that whenever 2/3 of both Houses shall· deem 
determine or, on or after December 3, 2014, the Legislature determines it necessary, 
by proper enactment ratified by a majority of the electors voting thereon at a general 
or special election, the Legislature may authorize the issuance of bonds on behalf of 
the State at such times and in such amounts and for such purposes as approved by 
such an action; but this shall may not be construed to refer to any money that has 
been; or may be deposited with this State by the Government of the United States, or 
to any fund whish that the State shall hold holds in trust for any Indian tribe. 
Whenever ratification by the electors is essential to the validity of bonds to be issued 
on behalf of. the State, the question submitted to the electors shall. must be 
accompanied by a statement setting forth the total amount of bonds of the State 
outstanding and unpaid, the total amount of bonds of the State authorized . and 
unissued; and the total amount of bonds of the State contemplated to be issued if the 
enactment submitted to the electors be ratified. For any bond authorization requiring 
ratification of the electors pursuant to this section, if any bonds have not been issued 
within 5 years of the date of ratification, ,then. those bonds may not be issued after that 
. date. Within 2 years .after expiration of that 5-year period, the Legislature may. 
extend, by· a majority vote, the 5-year period for an additional 5 years or may 
deauthorize the bonds. If the Legislature fails to take action within those 2 years, the 
bond issue shall be i.§. considered to be deauthorized and no further bonds may be 
issued. For any bond authorization in existence on November 6,1984, and for which 
the 5-year period following ratification has expired, no further bot;lds may be issued 
unless the Legislature, by November 6, 1986, reauthoriies those bonds by a majority 
vote, for an additional 5:'year period, failing which all bonds unissued under those 
authorizations shall be are considered to be deauthorized. Temporary loans to be 
paid out of moneys money raised by taxation during any fiscal year sh8Jl may not 
exceed in the aggregate during the fiscal year in question an amount greater than 10% 
of all the moneys money appropriated, authorized and allocated by the Legislature 
from undedicated revenues to the General Fund and dedicated revenues to the 
Highway Fund for that, fiscal year, exclusive of proceeds or expenditures from the' 
sale of bonds, or greater than 1 % of the total valuation of the State of Maine, . 
whichever is the lesser. 
Section 20. Mining Excise Tax Trust Fund. The principal amount of the 
Mining Excise Tax Trust Fund or any successor fund may not be expended unless the 
expenditure is approved in a separate measure by a 2/3 vote of all the members 
elected to each House of the Legislature or, on or after December 3, 2014, by a 2/3 
vote of the Legislature and by the Governor. 
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Section 21. State mandates. For the purpose of more fairly apportioning the 
cost of government and providing local property tax relief, the State may not require 
a local unit of government to expand or modify that unit's activities so as to 
necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues unless the State provides 
annually 90% of the funding for these expenditures from State state funds not 
previously appropriC).ted to that local unit of government. Legislation implementing 
this section or requiring a specific expenditure as an exception to this requirement 
may be enacted upon the vote of 2/3 of all members elected to each House or, on or 
after December 3, 2014, by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature. This section must be 
liberally construed. 
. 
Section 23. State park land. State park land, public lots or other real estate 
held by the State for conservation or recreation purposes and designated by 
legislation implementing this section may not be reduced or its uses substantially 
altered except on the vote of 2/3 of all the members elected to each House or, on or 
after December 3, 2014, the Legislature. The proceeds from the sale of such land 
must be used to purchase additional real estate in the same county for the same 
purposes. 
Constitution, Art. X, §4 is amended to read: 
Section 4. Amendments to Constitution. The Legislature, whenever 2/3 of 
both Houses shall deem determine or, on or after December 3, 2014, 2/3 of the 
Legislature determines it necessary, may propose amendments to this Constitutiont 
and when any amendments shall be are so agreed upon, a resolution shall must be 
passed and sent to the selectmen municipal officers of the several towns, and the 
assessors of the several plantations, empowering and directing them to notify the 
inhabitants of their respective towns and plantations, in the manner prescribed by 
law, at the next biennial meetings in the month of November, or to meet· in the 
manner prescribed by law for calling and holding biennial meetings of traia those 
inhabitants for the election of Senators and Representatives or, on or after December 
3,2014, Senators, on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November following 
the passage of said resolve the resolution, to give in: their votes on the question, 
whether such an amendment shall should be madet and ... if it shall appear appears that 
a majority of the inhabitants voting on the question are iIi favor of such an 
amendment, it shall become becomes a part of this Constitution. 
; 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 2010 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 eliminate the 
Senate and the House of Representatives and to replace them with a 
single-house Legislature of 105 members?" 
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 maj ority 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: Tpat 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 amends the Constitution of Maine to abolish the Senate and the 
House of Representatives and to replace them with a unicameral Legislature made up 
of 105 members who will be referred to as Senators. This reduction requires a 
reapportionment plan by the Legislature that convenes in December 2012 so that the 
Legislature elected in November 2014 is unicameral. 
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