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Pennsylvania Question 2, Changes to Board of Pardons Amendment (1997)
| Pennsylvania Question 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 4, 1997 | |
| Topic State executive official measures | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Pennsylvania Question 2 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Pennsylvania on November 4, 1997. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported this constitutional amendment to (1) require a unanimous recommendation of the board of pardons before the governor can pardon or commute the sentence of a person sentenced to death or life imprisonment in a criminal case; (2) require a majority vote of the state Senate to approve the governor's appointments to the board; and (3) substitute a crime victim for an attorney and a corrections expert for a penologist as board members. |
A "no" vote opposed this constitutional amendment to (1) require a unanimous recommendation of the board of pardons before the governor can pardon or commute the sentence of a person sentenced to death or life imprisonment in a criminal case; (2) require a majority vote of the state Senate to approve the governor's appointments to the board; and (3) substitute a crime victim for an attorney and a corrections expert for a penologist as board members. |
Election results
|
Pennsylvania Question 2 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,182,067 | 59.29% | ||
| No | 811,701 | 40.71% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 2 was as follows:
| “ | Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to require a unanimous recommendation of the board of pardons before the Governor can pardon or commute the sentence of an individual sentenced in a criminal case to death or life imprisonment, to require only a majority vote of the Senate to approve the Governor’s appointments to the board, and to substitute a crime victim for an attorney and a corrections expert for a penologist as board members? | ” |
Path to the ballot
In Pennsylvania, the General Assembly must pass a constitutional amendment by a simple majority vote during two successive legislative sessions to refer the measure to the ballot for voter consideration. The legislature can also pass a measure by a two-thirds vote during one legislative session if a “major emergency threatens or is about to threaten the Commonwealth.”
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Pennsylvania Harrisburg (capital) |
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