West Virginia Organization Date of State Legislature Amendment (2014)

Not on Ballot
This measure was not put on an election ballot

The West Virginia Organization Date of State Legislature Amendment was not on the November 4, 2014 ballot in West Virginia as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. The measure would have permitted the West Virginia Legislature to organize legislative officers by December 1, following a general election and before convening in January.

The measure's assigned name was Organization of Houses of the Legislature Amendment.

The proposed amendment was sponsored in the West Virginia Legislature by State Senator Erik Wells (D-8) as Senate Joint Resolution 7.

Text of measure

Ballot summary

The proposed ballot purpose summary read as follows:

“

To amend the State Constitution to permit the Legislature to organize by the election of its officers on December 1, following a general election, and prior to convening in January.

”

Constitutional changes

The proposed amendment would have amended Section 18 of Article VI of the Constitution of West Virginia:

§18. Time and place of assembly of Legislature. The Legislature shall assemble annually at the seat of government, and not more often more often oftener unless convened by the Governor. Regular sessions of the Legislature shall commence on the second Wednesday of January of each year. Upon: Provided, That prior to the convening of the Legislature in January, each house shall meet on December 1 following each general election, in each odd-numbered year, and each house shall proceed to organize by the election of its officers for two-year terms and both houses shall then in joint assembly open and publish the election returns delivered to the Legislature as prescribed by other provisions of this Constitution and by general law. When all of these matters have been completed in the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-three 2017 and every fourth year thereafter, the Legislature shall adjourn until the second Wednesday of February following. Notwithstanding the provisions of section fifty-one of this article and any other provisions of this Constitution, on and after the effective date hereof, there shall be submitted by the Governor to the Legislature, on the second Wednesday of February in the year one thousand nine hundred seventy-three 2017 and every fourth year thereafter, and on the second Wednesday of January of all other years, unless a later time in any year be fixed by the Legislature, a budget for the next ensuing fiscal year and a bill for the proposed appropriations of such budget.

Support

Supporters

• Sen. Erik Wells (D-8)
• Sen. Mitch B. Carmichael (R-4)

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the West Virginia Constitution

According to the West Virginia Constitution, a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature was required to refer the amendment to the ballot.

See also

Suggest a link

• 2014 ballot measures
• West Virginia 2014 ballot measures

External links

• Senate Joint Resolution 7

Footnotes

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