Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1680
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: DUNPHY

Legislative Document 
No. 1680 
H.P. 1150 
House of Representatives, March 29, 2016 
RESOLUTION, PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE 
CONSTITUTION OF MAINE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF 
REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS IN THE LEGISLATURE 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DUNPHY of Embden.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
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, beginning with the 129th Legislature and 
thereafter, the House of Representatives shall consist of 100 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 2013 2017, and also the Legislature which convenes in 2021 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, 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, beginning with the 129th 
Legislature and thereafter, the Senate shall consist of 25 Senators, 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 2013 2017, and also the Legislature which shall convene in the year 
2021 and every tenth 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. 
; 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 100 members and to 
reduce the size of the Senate from no more than 35 members and no 
fewer than 31 members to 25 members, beginning with the Legislature 
elected in 2018?" 
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 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 to amend the Constitution of Maine to reduce the size of the 
House of Representatives from 151 members to 100 members and the size of the Senate 
from no more than 35 members and no fewer than 31 members to 25 members, beginning 
with the Legislature elected in 2018.