45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF TERMS A SENATOR ELECTED AS PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE AND A REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED AS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MAY SERVE IN THOSE OFFICES.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 4, Section 8 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"A. The senate shall be called to order in the hall of the senate by the lieutenant governor. The senate shall elect a president pro tempore who shall preside in the absence of the lieutenant governor [and shall serve until the next session of the legislature]. The house of representatives shall be called to order in the hall of said house by the secretary of state. He shall preside until the election of a speaker, who shall be the member receiving the highest number of votes for that office.

B. The senator elected to serve as president pro tempore of the senate shall serve no more than a total of four terms as president pro tempore and the representative elected to serve as speaker of the house of representatives shall serve no more than a total of four terms as speaker of the house of representatives. The term for president pro tempore of the senate and the term for speaker of the house of representatives shall end on the Monday immediately prior to the third Tuesday in January of an odd-numbered year."

Section 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date which may be called for that purpose.