Measure Text

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA:

SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. A new article of the Constitution of the State of North Dakota is created and enacted as follows:

SECTION 1. TERM LIMITS FOR LEGISLATORS. An individual shall not serve as a member of the house of representatives for a cumulative period of time amounting to more than eight (8) years. An individual shall not serve as a member of the senate for a cumulative period of time amounting to more than eight (8) years. An individual shall not be eligible to serve a full or remaining term as member of the house of representatives or the senate if serving the full or remaining term would cause the individual to serve for a cumulative period of time amounting to more than eight (8) years in that respective house.

SECTION 2. TERM LIMITS FOR GOVERNOR. An individual shall not be elected to the office of governor more than twice. This provision shall not prevent the lieutenant governor from succeeding to the office of governor, nor prevent the secretary of state from acting as governor.

SECTION 3. APPLICATION OF TERM LIMITS. The limitations established by this article shall have prospective effect only, and service as a member of the house of representatives, service as a member of the senate, and prior election to the office of governor shall not be counted against any service or election, respectively, of any individual that occurs after the effective date of this amendment. Service by the lieutenant governor in his capacity as president of the senate shall not count toward the cumulative amount of time an individual may serve as a member of the senate.

SECTION 4. THE PEOPLE’S TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT. Notwithstanding the legislative assembly’s authority to propose amendments to this constitution under article IV, section 16 thereof, the legislative assembly shall not have authority to propose an amendment to this constitution to alter or repeal the term limitations established in section 1 of this article. The authority to propose an amendment to this constitution to alter or repeal the term limitations established in section 1 of this article is reserved to initiative petition of the people under article III of this constitution.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This amendment shall be effective on the first day of January immediately following approval by voters.

SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this article are severable, and if any provision is held to be invalid, either on its face or as applied, the remaining provisions and their application shall not be affected thereby. In any case of a conflict between any provision of this article and any other provision of this constitution, the provisions of this article shall control.