Ohio "Strengthening Term Limits on State Legislators" Amendment (2016)
| Ohio "Strengthening Term Limits on State Legislators" Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2016 | |
| Topic Term limits | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin Citizens |
| Not on Ballot |
|---|
 |
| This measure was not put on an election ballot |
The "Strengthening Term Limits on State Legislators" Amendment did not make the November 8, 2016, ballot in Ohio as an initiated constitutional amendment.
The measure would have placed tighter restrictions on term limits for state lawmakers in Ohio. Lawmakers would have been unable to hold any combination of elected office for more than 12 years and would have been unable to hold the same elected office for more than 8 years. These restrictions would not have applied to past legislative terms served.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was:[1]
| “ | To Strengthen Term Limits on State Legislators[2] | ” |
Ballot summary
The ballot summary was:[1]
| “ |
To add Section 43 to Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio The proposed amendment would provide that, in Ohio: 1. No person shall hold any combination of elected legislative offices for greater than twelve years. 2. No person shall hold the same elected legislative office for greater than eight years. 3. No person shall hold an elected legislative office if the term limits in this Amendment would forbid that person from completing the full term for that office. 4. No other provision of the Ohio Constitution shall impair the limits contained in this Section. The proposed amendment would not: 1. Increase the number of consecutive terms by which a person may hold any legislative office. 2. Apply to past legislative terms served.[2] |
” |
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
The Eight is Enough campaign led the support for the amendment.[3]
Arguments in favor
Ray Warrick, chairman of the Eight is Enough committee and the Warren County Republican Party, said,[3]
| “ | The General Assembly’s sneak attack on term limits, through the ruse of a commission, is a slap in the face to the people of Ohio. ... Ohio’s term limits are weak when compared to others around the country. And yet our leaders still whine about them and scheme to get around them.[2] | ” |
Opposition
The Akron Beacon Journal editorial board opposed the amendment.[4]
Arguments against
The Akron Beacon Journal editorial board published an article stating:[4]
| “ | Although there is no lifetime ban on service and nothing to bar legislators from moving between the House and Senate, terms limits have greatly reduced the institutional memory needed to tackle difficult issues. More, lobbyists have gained power as term-limited lawmakers look to pass flashy but insubstantial bills, the goal often to gain name recognition before moving on to another office.[2] | ” |
Path to the ballot
Petitioners needed to submit 1,000 signatures with the initial petition filing. The attorney general's office received the petition on August 28, 2015, and certified the measure on September 8, 2015. The Ohio Ballot Board approved the amendment on September 18, 2015.[1][5][6]
Supporters needed to collect 305,591 signatures by July 6, 2016, to have the initiative placed on the November 2016 ballot. Supporters placed the initiative on hold awaiting a recommendation of the Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission regarding term limits.[7]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ohio Secretary of State,"2015-09-18 petition," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Toledo Blade, "Tighter term limits sought for Ohio legislators," September 1, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Akron Beacon Journal, "Put term limits on the November ballot," February 14, 2016
- ↑ Ohio Attorney General, "Attorney General Certification Letter," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Ballot Board Certification Letter," accessed November 13, 2015
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "No statewide ballot measures planned for Ohio's November election," July 2, 2016
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