Delaware Increase Salary Limit For Officers Not Confirmed by Legislature Amendment (2011)
| Delaware Increase Salary Limit For Officers Not Confirmed by Legislature Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ratification date June 30, 2011 | |
| Topics Salaries of government officials and State executive powers and duties | |
| Sponsors State Sen. Patricia Blevins (D-7) and State Sen. Nancy Cook (D-15) |
The Delaware Increase Salary Limit For Officers Not Confirmed by Legislature Amendment was approved by the Delaware General Assembly and added to the Delaware Constitution on June 30, 2011.
The amendment increased the salary limit for officers appointed by the governor that do not need to be confirmed by the state legislature.
Overview
What did this constitutional amendment do?
- See also: Text of measure
The amendment increased the salary limit for officers appointed by the governor but not confirmed by the state legislature.[1] Prior to the amendment, such officers could make an annual total of $500. After the amendment, an officer could make $1,500 annually. Any officer who made more than that would need to be confirmed by the state legislature after being appointed by the governor.
Who supported this constitutional amendment?
State Sen. Patricia Blevins (D-7) and state Sen. Nancy Cook (D-15) introduced the constitutional amendment to the Delaware General Assembly for their consideration. The legislature approved both versions of the amendment with a Bipartisan Partisan Directional Index.
Text of measure
Constitutional changes
- See also: Delaware Constitution
The amendment replaced Section 9 of Article III of the Delaware Constitution. The following underlined text was added and the struck-through text was deleted:[1]
Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.
Section 9. Appointing Power; Recess Appointments; Confirmation
He or she shall have power, unless herein otherwise provided, to appoint, by and with the consent of a majority of all the members elected to the Senate, such officers as he or she is or may be authorized by this Constitution or by law to appoint. He or she shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, in offices to which he or she may appoint, except in the offices of Chancellor, Chief Justice and Judges, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the end of the next session of the Senate.
He or she shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen in elective offices, except in the offices of Lieutenant-Governor and members of the General Assembly, by granting Commissions which shall expire when their successors shall be duly qualified.
In case of vacancy in an elective office, except as aforesaid, a person shall be chosen to said office for the full term at the next general election, unless the vacancy shall happen within two months next before such election, in which case the election for said office shall be held at the second succeeding general election.
Unless herein otherwise provided, confirmation by the Senate of officers appointed by the Governor shall be required only where the salary, fees and emoluments of office shall exceed the sum of five fifteen hundred dollars annually.[2]
Full text
The full text of the measure can be found here.
Amending the Delaware Constitution
The Delaware General Assembly has the sole and complete authority to amend the state constitution. Unlike in any other state, the state legislature can amend the constitution without a vote of the people. For the legislature to amend the constitution:
- two-thirds of all the members elected to each chamber must vote in favor of a proposed amendment;
- the Delaware Secretary of State must then publish the proposed amendment three months prior to the next general election in at least three newspapers in each county; and
- the subsequent General Assembly then votes again on the proposed amendment(s) and if an amendment receives two-thirds majority approval of all members of each chamber, it becomes part of the constitution.
The amendment in the Delaware General Assembly
Senate Bill 18 (2011)
State Sen. Patricia Blevins (D-7) introduced the amendment to the state legislature on January 25, 2011. The state Senate passed the amendment on June 21 in a vote of 20-0, with one senator not voting. On June 30, the state House passed the amendment in a vote of 41-0.[3] A full breakdown of partisan vote totals was not available for this bill.
Senate Bill 328 (2010)
On June 14, 2010, state Sen. Nancy Cook (D-15) introduced the amendment to the state legislature as Senate Bill 328. On June 29, the state Senate passed the amendment in a vote of 18-2, with one senator not voting. On June 30, the state House passed the amendment in a vote of 38-0, with three representatives not voting.[4]
| Votes Required to Pass: 14 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| Total % | 85.7% | 9.5% | 4.8% |
| Democratic (D) | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican (R) | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Votes Required to Pass: 28 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 38 | 0 | 3 |
| Total % | 92.7% | 0.0% | 7.3% |
| Democratic (D) | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican (R) | 15 | 0 | 2 |
See also
- The Delaware Constitution
- Amending the Delaware Constitution
- State constitutional conventions
- Other constitutional amendments concerning Salaries of government officials
- Other constitutional amendments concerning State executive powers and duties
External links
- Delaware General Assembly - Senate Bill 18 (2011)
- Delaware General Assembly - Senate Bill 328 (2010)
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Delaware State Legislature, "Senate Bill 18 Text," accessed October 22, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source.
- ↑ Delaware General Assembly, "Senate Bill 18," accessed October 22, 2025
- ↑ Delaware General Assembly, "Senate Bill 328," accessed October 22, 2025
