Arizona Term Limits, Proposition 107 (1992)

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The Arizona Term Limits Amendment, also known as Proposition 107, was a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot in Arizona, which was approved in the statewide election on November 3, 1992.

• This proposed amendment to the Constitution of Arizona limits the number of consecutive term limits for U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, State Legislators, State Executive Offices, Corporation Commissioners and Mine Inspectors.

Election results

Arizona Proposition 107 (1992)
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		1,026,830	74.21%
No		356,799	25.79%

Official results via: State of Arizona Official Canvass

Text of measure

The text of the ballot read:

“

OFFICIAL TITLE Proposed amendment to the constitution by the initiative Proposing amendments to the Constitution of Arizona to keep the names of senators from Arizona to the United States Senate who are completing two consecutive terms (12 years) and representatives from Arizona to the United States House of Representatives who are completing three consecutive terms (6 years) from being printed on the ballot by amending Article VII to add Section 18; to limit terms of state senators and representatives to four consecutive terms (eight years) by amending Article IV, Part 2, Section 21; to limit the terms of office of members of the Arizona Executive Department to two consecutive terms (eight years) by amending Article V, Section 1(A); to delete Article V, Section 10, pertaining to the elimination of terms of the state treasurer, as it is superseded by the amendment proposed by this initiative measure; to limit the terms of office of members of the corporation commission to one consecutive term (6 years) by amending Article XV; and to limit the terms of office of the state mine inspector to four consecutive terms (8 years) by amending Article XIX. DESCRIPTIVE TITLE Amending the Arizona Constitution to limit the number of consecutive terms begining in January 1993 for: United States Senator; 2 terms. United States Representative; 3 terms. State Legislature; 4 terms. State Executive Offices; 2 terms. Corporation Commissioner; 1 term. Mine Inspector; 4 terms.

”

Constitutional changes

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Arizona: The following amendments to the Constitution of the State of Arizona, amending Article VII to add§ 18, amending Article IV, Part 2, § 21 and Article V, § 1 A, deleting Article V, § 10, amending Article XV § 1 and amending Article XIX are proposed to become valid when approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon and on proclamation of the governor: § 1. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IS AMENDED BY ADDING ARTICLE VII SECTION 18. Article VII, Section 18. § 18. Term limits on ballot appearances in congressional elections. Section 18. The name of any candidate for United States Senator from Arizona shall not appear on the ballot if, by the end of the current term of office, the candidate will have served (or, but for resignation, would have served) in that office for two consecutive terms, and the name of a candidate for United States Representative from Arizona shall not appear on the ballot if, by the end of the current term of office, the candidate will have served (or. but for resignation. would have served) in that office for three consecutive terms. Terms are considered consecutive unless they are at least one full term apart. Any person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy in the United States Congress who serves at least one half of a term of office shall be considered to have served a term in that office for purposes of this section. For purposes of this section, terms beginning before January 1. 1993 shall not be considered. § 2. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IS AMENDED BY AMENDING ARTICLE IV, PART 2, SECTION 21. Article IV, Part 2, Section 21. § 21. Terms limits of members of state legislature. Section 21. The members of the first Legislature shall hold office until the first Monday in January, 1913. The terms of office of the members of succeeding Legislatures shall be two years. No state Senator shall serve more than four consecutive terms in that office nor shall any state Representative serve more than four consecutive terms in that office. This limitation on the number of terms of consecutive service shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993. No Legislator after serving the maximum number of terms which shall include any part of a term served may serve in the same office until he has been out of office for no less than one full term. § 3. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IS AMENDED BY AMENDING ARTICLE V, SECTION I A. Article V, Section 1. § 1. Term limits on Executive department and state officers; terms lengths; election; residence and office at seat of government; duties. Section 1. A. The executive department shall consist of the governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction, each of whom shall hold office for a term of four years beginning on the first Monday of January, 1971 next after the regular general election in 1970. No member of the executive department shall hold that office for more than two consecutive terms. This limitation on the number of terms of consecutive service shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993. No member of the executive department after serving the maximum number of terms, which shall include any part of a term served, may serve in the same office until out of office for no less than one full term. § 4. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IS AMENDED BY DELETING ARTICLE V, SECTION 10. SECTIONS 11, 12, AND 13 OF ARTICLE V SHALL BE RENUMBERED TO PROVIDE FOR CONSECUTIVE NUMBERING AFTER THE DELETION OF PRESENT SECTION 10. Article V, Section 10. § 10. Ineligibility of state treasurer to succeed himself. Section l0. No person shall be eligible to succeed himself to the office of State Treasurer for the succeeding two years after the expiration of the term for which he shall have been elected. § 5. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IS AMENDED BY ADDING ARTICLE XV, SECTION 1 A. Article XV, Section 1. § 1. Term limits on Corporation Commission; Composition; election; term of office; office and residence; vacancies; qualifications. Section l. A. No member of the Corporation Commission shall hold that office for more than one consecutive term. No Corporation Commissioner, after serving that term may serve in that office until out of office for one full term. Any person who serves one half or more of a term shall be considered to have served one term for purposes of this section. This limitation shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after January l, 1993. § 6. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IS AMENDED BY AMENDING ARTICLE XIX. Article XIX. The office of Mine Inspector is hereby established. The Legislature, at its first session, shall enact laws so regulating the operation and equipment of all mines in the State as to provide for the health and safety of workers therein and in connection therewith, and fixing the duties of said office. Upon approval of such laws by the Governor, the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall forthwith appoint a Mine Inspector, who shall serve until his successor shall have been elected at the first general election thereafter and shall qualify. Said successor and all subsequent incumbents of said office shall be elected at general elections, and shall serve for a term of two years. No Mine Inspector shall serve more than four consecutive terms in that office. No Mine Inspector. after serving the maximum number of terms. which shall include any part of a term served. may serve in the same office until out of office for no less than one full term. This limitation on the number of terms of consecutive service shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after January 1, 1993. § 7. SEVERABILITY. IF ANY PROVISION OF THIS INITIATIVE OR ITS APPLICATION TO ANY PERSON OR CIRCUMSTANCE IS HELD INVALID, THE INVALIDITY DOES NOT AFFECT OTHER PROVISIONS OR APPLICATIONS OF THE ACT THAT CAN BE GIVEN EFFECT WITHOUT THE INVALID PROVISION OR APPLICATION, AND TO THIS END THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT ARE SEVERABLE.

Note: Deleted language is crossed out, added language is capitalized.

Support

Those in support of the amendment include:

• Arizona Public Interest Research Group
• Enough! Repeal the Tax Increase

Arguments in favor of the amendment include:

• Today's politicians have lost touch with the people and need to be limited in order for them not to be solely focused on their own re-election.
• Term limits will allow new people with new ideas to take office and come up with innovative solutions.

Opposition

Arguments in opposition of the amendment include:

• The turnover rate for politicians in Arizona is already high, so not allowing for one to vote for whom they believe is the best choice infringes on the right to vote.
• Not allowing senior and experienced members of legislature will hurt the people of Arizona long term.

See also

Suggest a link

• List of Arizona ballot measures
• Arizona 1992 ballot measures
• 1992 ballot measures

External links

• State of Arizona 1992 Ballot Propositions guide
• Arizona Department of State official website