Idaho Proposition 4, Congressional Term Limits Instruction Initiative (1996)
| Idaho Initiative 4 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Congressional term limits |
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| Status |
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| Type Initiated state statute |
Origin |
Idaho Initiative 4 was on the ballot as an initiated state statute in Idaho on November 5, 1996. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported instructing state and federal lawmakers to support a U.S. constitutional amendment establishing congressional term limits and requiring ballot labels indicating candidates’ positions. |
A "no" vote opposed instructing state and federal lawmakers to support a U.S. constitutional amendment establishing congressional term limits and requiring ballot labels indicating candidates’ positions. |
Election results
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Idaho Initiative 4 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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267,973 | 56.05% | ||
| No | 210,108 | 43.95% | ||
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- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Initiative 4 was as follows:
| “ | INITIATIVE INSTRUCTING IDAHO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT AMENDMENT TO U.S. CONSTITUTION LIMITING TERMS OF U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO THREE, AND U.S. SENATOR TO TWO TERMS. IF MEMBER OF IDAHO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FAILS TO PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS SUPPORTING CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT, THE PHRASE “DISREGARDED VOTERS’ INSTRUCTION ON TERM LIMITS” WOULD APPEAR ADJACENT TO THEIR NAME ON BALLOT. THE INITIATIVE ALLOWS CANDIDATES FOR U.S. CONGRESS TO SIGN A PLEDGE TO SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT, AND THE PHRASE “DECLINED TO PLEDGE TO SUPPORT TERM LIMITS” WOULD APPEAR ADJACENT TO THE CANDIDATE’S NAME ON BALLOT IF THEY FAIL TO SIGN. THE INITIATIVE INSTRUCTS STATE LEGISLATORS TO MAKE APPLICATION TO U.S. CONGRESS FOR A CONVENTION PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. IF A STATE LEGISLATOR FAILS TO PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION, THE PHRASE “DISREGARDED VOTERS’ INSTRUCTION ON TERM LIMITS” WOULD APPEAR ADJACENT TO LEGISLATOR’S NAME ON BALLOT. THE INITIATIVE REQUIRES SECRETARY OF STATE TO DETERMINE WHETHER STATEMENT SHOULD APPEAR ON BALLOT, AND CANDIDATES AND ELECTORS CAN APPEAL THE DECISION TO THE IDAHO SUPREME COURT. IF CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT IS BEFORE STATES FOR RATIFICATION OR BECOMES PART OF U.S. CONSTITUTION, NO STATEMENT WOULD APPEAR ON BALLOT AND ACT WOULD BE REPEALED. Shall the above-entitled measure proposed by Proposition Four be approved? | ” |
Path to the ballot
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.
In Idaho, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 6% of the number of registered voters as of the state's last general election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Idaho Boise (capital) |
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