Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0434
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: FINCH, JOY, PEOPLES

Legislative Document 
No. 434 
H.P.322 
House of Representatives, Febmary 10, 2009 
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. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: JOY of Crystal, PEOPLES of Westbrook, SIROIS ofTumer. 
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, 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 151 members, except that, for the Legislature that convenes in 2011 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 ~ 
2009 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 N, 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 e)wlusive of foreigners not naturalized according 
to the latest Federal Decen..'1ial 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. 'Vlhenever the population of a municipality entitles it to more 
than one district, all '1lhole districts shall be drawn within municipal boundaries. l'\By 
population remainder 'lIithin the mUnicipality shall be included in a district "'lith 
contimous territorY and shall be kent 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 2011 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 err 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 ~ 
2009 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 
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for each Senatorial District. Each Senatorial District must be fonned of contiguous 
and compact territory and must 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 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 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 2011 ?" 
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 shaH 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 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 2010 during the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature and the 
adjustments in the size of each legislative body take effect in 2011.