Opinion ID: 1239200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: terminating legislators' terms

Text: The 1971 Reapportionment Plan provided for termination of all Senators' terms, with the exception of two Senators whose districts were not altered. Under the 1971 plan the areas to be represented by the remaining Senators were changed, and particularly the Anchorage senatorial districts had drastic changes in that the Senators no longer were to run at large. A need to truncate the terms of incumbents may arise when reapportionment results in a permanent change in district lines which either excludes substantial numbers of constituents previously represented by the incumbent or includes numerous other voters who did not have a voice in the selection of that incumbent. The discretionary authority to require mid-term elections when necessary is well established. [50] We accordingly hold that the Governor had the power to terminate Senate terms as incidental to his general reapportionment powers. [51]