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Council urges 2007 constitutional convention
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Posted on Jun 15 2004
The 8th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council recently adopted a resolution asking the members of the Legislature and Gov. Juan N. Babauta to call for a Constitutional Convention in 2007.
According to Resolution No. 8SMC-2RS-81, the Third Constitutional Convention was held in 1995, and Article XVII (Constitutional Amendment) Section 2(a) (Constitutional Convention) stipulated that the Legislature, by the affirmative vote of the majority of the members of each house, may submit to the voters the question, “Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to propose amendments to the Constitution?”
The Legislature, or the Governor in the event the Legislature fails to act, may submit this question to the voters at the regular general election no later than 10 years after the last question was submitted and or provided by law.
Further, members of the municipal council recommends that the question to the voters be placed on the ballot at the 2005 regular general election followed by the election of delegates at the 2007 November mid-term election.
In the interest of reducing costs, the municipal council said the composition of the 4th Constitutional Convention be apportioned with the Third Senatorial District electing 15 members and the First and Second Senatorial Districts electing 6 delegates each.
“Further, the Council feels that with the time frame, the Legislature and the Executive Branches will have sufficient time to prepare for a successful 4th Constitutional Convention,” it added.
