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Wyoming Initiative 1, Officials to Advocate for Congressional Term Limits Measure (1996)
| Wyoming Initiative 1 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Federal government issues |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Wyoming Initiative 1 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Wyoming on November 5, 1996. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported this ballot initiative related to congressional term limits, including:
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A "no" vote opposed this ballot initiative related to congressional term limits. |
Election results
In Wyoming, a ballot initiative must receive a majority of ballots cast in the election, not just a majority of votes cast on the ballot initiative. At the election on November 5, 1996, a ballot initiative needed to receive 107,923 votes to pass.[1]
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Wyoming Initiative 1 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 105,093 | 54.14% | ||
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89,018 | 45.86% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Initiative 1 was as follows:
| “ | Shall a law be enacted: Calling upon Wyoming’s U.S. Congressional Delegation, Wyoming State Legislators and the Governor to vote for all measures necessary for an amendment to the United States Constitution limiting U.S. Senators to two terms (12 years) and U.S. Representatives to three terms (6 years), meaning that the state legislature would be requested to vote for the calling of a constitutional convention and the congressional delegation would be requested to vote for the amendment itself; AND Requiring incumbent candidates to support every possible legislative action to promote term limits or the words "VIOLATED VOTER INSTRUCTION ON TERM LIMITS" would be printed next to their names on the ballot; and requiring non-incumbent candidates to pledge support for term limits, or the words "DECLINED TO TAKE PLEDGE TO SUPPORT TERM LIMITS" would be printed next to their names on the ballot; AND Requiring the Secretary of State to determine the designation (which is based on incumbent candidates' voting records and actions on every possible legislative opportunity regarding term limits) to be printed on the ballot next to incumbent candidates' names and allowing electors and candidates to contest those determinations in court? | ” |
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 Wyoming, the number of required signatures is based on the number of votes cast in the state's most recent general election, held every two years. Initiated state statutes require signatures equal to 15% of the total ballots cast in the previous general election.
As soon as petition sponsors have received the petition form from the state, they have 18 months to collect signatures and file their petitions. If sufficient signatures have been gathered, the measure is presented to voters at the next general election after a legislative session has convened and adjourned.
The governor cannot veto an indirect initiative approved by the Legislature.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Wyoming Cheyenne (capital) |
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