Opinion ID: 1115370
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statement of Purpose and Findings

Text: Section 1.5 is added to article IV of the Constitution (the Legislative article), to set forth various findings and statements of the framers' intent. In pertinent part, this introductory provision recites that although the Founding Fathers established a system of representative government based upon free, fair, and competitive elections, nonetheless an extremely high number of incumbents are reelected by reason of [t]he ability of legislators to serve unlimited number of terms, to establish their own retirement system, and to pay for staff and support services at state expense.... The introductory statement continues by noting that These unfair incumbent advantages discourage qualified candidates from seeking public office and create a class of career politicians, instead of the citizen representatives envisioned by the Founding Fathers. The statement concludes by stating that, To restore a free and democratic system of fair elections, and to encourage qualified candidates to seek public office, the people find and declare that the powers of incumbency must be limited, as provided by the substantive amendments we now discuss.