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Maine Question 1, U.S. Congress Term Limits Measure (1994)
| Maine Question 1 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Congressional term limits |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Maine Question 1 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Maine on November 8, 1994.
A "yes" vote supported directing the secretary of state to not place on the ballot any candidates for the United States House of Representatives who had been elected to represent the state in that office for any six of the previous eleven years or any candidates for United States Senate who had been elected to represent the state in that office for any 12 of the previous 17 years. |
A "no" vote opposed directing the secretary of state to not place on the ballot any candidates for the United States House of Representatives who had been elected to represent the state in that office for any six of the previous eleven years or any candidates for United States Senate who had been elected to represent the state in that office for any 12 of the previous 17 years. |
Election results
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Maine Question 1 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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312,007 | 63.13% | ||
| No | 182,192 | 36.87% | ||
Aftermath
The measure was declared unconstitutional by the Maine Federal District Court on May 26, 1995. The court found that the measure violated the Qualification Clauses of the United States Constitution and permanently enjoined the secretary of state and attorney general from implementing, carrying out or enforcing the law.[1]
In 1996, Maine voter approved another indirect initiated state statute which sought a constitutional convention on the United States Constitution to create term limits on members of the U.S. Congress.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:
| “ | Do you favor the changes in Maine law limiting the number of terms which may be served by Maine's Representative to the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate proposed by citizen petition? | ” |
Path to the ballot
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Maine, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute is equal to 10% of the total votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election prior to the filing of such petition. As an indirect process, the Legislature has until the end of the legislative session to approve the initiative after signatures are certified. If the legislature approves the initiative and the governor approves it, the measure becomes law. If the legislature does not approve the initiative, or if the governor vetoes the measure, it goes to voters for approval. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCourt
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State of Maine Augusta (capital) |
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