Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Constitution of Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1824
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: HICKMAN

Legislative Document
No. 1824
S.P. 740
In Senate, April 27, 2023
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Constitution of 
Maine
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the Commission to Study the 
Constitution of Maine, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established.
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 13 members as follows:
1.  Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 
members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
2.  Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature;
3.  Two active or retired judges or justices appointed by the Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Judicial Court;
4.  Two constitutional law scholars with expertise in the history of the Constitution of 
Maine appointed by the President of the Senate;
5. One member of a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State appointed by the 
Speaker of the House;
6. One representative of the state chapter of a national civil liberties organization 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
7. The Secretary of State or the Secretary of State's designee.
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair 
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission.
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for 
the commission to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5.  Duties; meetings.  Resolved:  That the commission is authorized to meet 
times and shall study and review the Constitution of Maine and recommend changes 
and amendments as considered necessary and desirable. 
Proposed changes and amendments for the commission to consider include, but are not 
limited to, provisions for:
1.  Strengthening Maine's Declaration of Rights, Article I of the constitution;
2.  Removing procedural minutiae from the constitution that are better left to statute;
3.  Creating the position of Lieutenant Governor;
4.  Enabling the popular election of constitutional officers;
5.  Establishing 4-year terms for Senators;
6.  Reducing the number of members of the Legislature;
7.  Establishing a unicameral Legislature;
8.  Allowing constitutional amendments to be initiated directly by the people of the 
State; and
9.  Examining any constitutional resolutions introduced in the First Regular Session or 
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission, except that Legislative Council staff support 
is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 6, 2024, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
resolutions to amend the Constitution of Maine, for presentation to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters for the First Regular 
Session of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve creates the Commission to Study the Constitution of Maine to study and 
review the Constitution of Maine and recommend changes and amendments as considered 
necessary and desirable.