MAINE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE IV
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Art. IV Part 1 §1 | LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT; STYLE OF ACTS
Art. IV Part 1 §2 | NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES; BIENNIAL TERMS; DIVISION OF THE STATE INTO DISTRICTS FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Art. IV Part 1 §3 | SUBMISSION OF REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN TO CLERK OF HOUSE; LEGISLATURE’S ACTION ON COMMISSION’S PLAN
In the event that the Legislature shall fail to make an apportionment by June 11th, the Supreme Judicial Court shall, within 60 days following the period in which the Legislature is required to act, but fails to do so, make the apportionment. In making such apportionment, the Supreme Judicial Court shall take into consideration plans and briefs filed by the public with the court during the first 30 days of the period in which the court is required to apportion.
The Supreme Judicial Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear any challenge to an apportionment law enacted by the Legislature, as registered by any citizen or group thereof. If any challenge is sustained, the Supreme Judicial Court shall make the apportionment.
Art. IV Part 1 §4 | QUALIFICATIONS; RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
No person may be a candidate for election as a member of the House of Representatives unless, at the time of the nomination for placement on a primary, general or special election ballot, that person is a resident in the district which the candidate seeks to represent.
Art. IV Part 1 §5 | ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES; LISTS OF VOTES DELIVERED FORTHWITH; LISTS OF VOTES EXAMINED BY GOVERNOR; SUMMONS OF PERSONS WHO APPEAR TO BE ELECTED; LISTS SHALL BE LAID BEFORE THE HOUSE
Art. IV Part 1 §6 | VACANCIES
Art. IV Part 1 §7 | TO CHOOSE OWN OFFICERS
Art. IV Part 1 §8 | POWER OF IMPEACHMENT
Art. IV Part 2 §1 | NUMBER OF SENATORS
Art. IV Part 2 §2 | SUBMISSION OF REAPPORTIONMENT PLAN TO SECRETARY OF SENATE; LEGISLATURE’S ACTION ON COMMISSION’S PLAN; DIVISION OF STATE INTO SENATORIAL DISTRICTS; DIVISION BY SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
The apportionment plan of the commission established under Article IV, Part Third, Section 1-A shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Senate no later than June 1st of the year in which apportionment is required. In the preparation of legislation implementing the plan, the commission, following a unanimous decision by commission members, may adjust errors and inconsistencies in accordance with the standards set forth in this Constitution, so long as substantive changes are not made. The Legislature shall enact the submitted plan of the commission or a plan of its own by a vote of 2/3 of the Members of each House by June 11th of the year in which apportionment is required. Such action shall be subject to the Governor's approval as provided in Article IV, Part Third, Section 2.
In the event that the Legislature shall fail to make an apportionment by June 11th, the Supreme Judicial Court shall, within 60 days following the period in which the Legislature is required to act but fails to do so, make the apportionment. In making such apportionment, the Supreme Judicial Court shall take into consideration plans and briefs filed by the public with the court during the first 30 days of the period in which the court is required to apportion.
The Supreme Judicial Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear any challenge to an apportionment law enacted by the Legislature, as registered by any citizen or group thereof. If any challenge is sustained, the Supreme Judicial Court shall make the apportionment.
Art. IV Part 2 §3 | ELECTION OF SENATORS; LISTS OF VOTES DELIVERED FORTHWITH
Art. IV Part 2 §4 | LISTS OF VOTES EXAMINED BY GOVERNOR; SUMMONS TO PERSONS WHO APPEAR TO BE ELECTED
Art. IV Part 2 §5 | DETERMINATION OF SENATORS ELECTED; PROCEDURE FOR FILLING VACANCIES
Art. IV Part 2 §6 | QUALIFICATIONS
Art. IV Part 2 §7 | TO TRY IMPEACHMENTS; LIMITATION OF JUDGMENT OF IMPEACHMENT; PARTY LIABLE TO BE TRIED AND PUNISHED IN COURT
Art. IV Part 2 §8 | TO CHOOSE OWN OFFICERS
Art. IV Part 3 §1 | TO MEET ANNUALLY; POWER OF LEGISLATURE TO CONVENE ITSELF AT OTHER TIMES; EXTENT OF LEGISLATIVE POWER
Art. IV Part 3 §1A | LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH APPORTIONMENT COMMISSION; NUMBER OF QUORUM; COMPENSATION OF COMMISSION MEMBERS; COMMISSION’S BUDGET; DIVISION AMONG POLITICAL PARTIES
The commission shall be composed of 3 members from the political party holding the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives, who shall be appointed by the Speaker; 3 members from the political party holding the majority of the remainder of the seats in the House of Representatives, who shall be appointed by the floor leader of that party in the House; 2 members of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Senate, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; 2 members of the political party holding the majority of the remainder of the seats in the Senate, to be appointed by the floor leader of that party in the Senate; the chairperson of each of the 2 major political parties in the State or their designated representatives; and 3 members from the public generally, one to be selected by each group of members of the commission representing the same political party, and the third to be selected by the other 2 public members. The Speaker of the House shall be responsible for organizing the commission and shall be chairperson pro tempore thereof until a permanent chairperson is selected by the commission members from among their own number. No action may be taken without a quorum of 8 being present. The commission shall hold public hearings on any plan for apportionment prior to submitting such plan to the Legislature.
Public members of the commission shall receive the same rate of per diem that is paid to Legislators for every day's attendance at special sessions of the Legislature as defined by law. All members of the commission shall be reimbursed for actual travel expenses incurred in carrying out the business of the commission. The Legislature which is required to apportion shall establish a budget for the apportioning commission within the state budget document in the fiscal year previous to the fiscal year during which the apportioning commission is required to convene and shall appropriate sufficient funds for the commission to satisfactorily perform its duties and responsibilities. The budget shall include sufficient funds to compensate the chairperson of the commission and the chairperson's staff. The remainder of the appropriation shall be made available equally among the political parties represented on the commission to provide travel expenses, incidental expenses and compensation for commission members and for partisan staff and operations.
Art. IV Part 3 §2 | BILLS TO BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR; PROCEEDINGS, IN CASE THE GOVERNOR DISAPPROVES; ALLOWING THE GOVERNOR 10 DAYS TO ACT ON LEGISLATION
Art. IV Part 3 §2A | LINE-ITEM VETO OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS APPEARING IN APPROPRIATION OR ALLOCATION SECTIONS OF LEGISLATIVE DOCUMENTS
Art. IV Part 3 §3 | EACH HOUSE THE JUDGE OF ITS ELECTIONS; MAJORITY, A QUORUM
Art. IV Part 3 §4 | MAY PUNISH AND EXPEL MEMBERS
Art. IV Part 3 §5 | SHALL KEEP A JOURNAL; YEAS AND NAYS
Art. IV Part 3 §6 | MAY PUNISH FOR CONTEMPT
Art. IV Part 3 §7 | COMPENSATION; TRAVELING EXPENSES
Art. IV Part 3 §8 | MEMBERS EXEMPT FROM ARREST; FREEDOM OF DEBATE
Art. IV Part 3 §9 | EITHER HOUSE MAY ORIGINATE BILLS; REVENUE BILLS
Art. IV Part 3 §10 | MEMBERS NOT TO BE APPOINTED TO CERTAIN OFFICES
Art. IV Part 3 §11 | PERSONS DISQUALIFIED TO BE MEMBERS
Art. IV Part 3 §12 | ADJOURNMENTS
Art. IV Part 3 §13 | SPECIAL LEGISLATION
Art. IV Part 3 §14 | CORPORATIONS, FORMED UNDER GENERAL LAWS
Art. IV Part 3 §15 | CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS
Art. IV Part 3 §16 | ACTS BECOME EFFECTIVE IN 90 DAYS AFTER RECESS; EXCEPTION; EMERGENCY BILL DEFINED
(2) a franchise or a license to a corporation or an individual to extend longer than one year, or
(3) provision for the sale or purchase or renting for more than 5 years of real estate.
Art. IV Part 3 §17 | PROCEEDINGS FOR PEOPLE’S VETO
2. Effect of referendum. The effect of any Act, bill, resolve or resolution or part or parts thereof as are specified in such petition shall be suspended upon the filing of such petition. If it is later finally determined, in accordance with any procedure enacted by the Legislature pursuant to the Constitution, that such petition was invalid, such Act, bill, resolve or resolution or part or parts thereof shall then take effect upon the day following such final determination.
3. Referral to electors; proclamation by Governor. As soon as it appears that the effect of any Act, bill, resolve, or resolution or part or parts thereof has been suspended by petition in manner aforesaid, the Governor by public proclamation shall give notice thereof and of the time when such measure is to be voted on by the people, which shall be at the next statewide or general election, whichever comes first, not less than 60 days after such proclamation. If the Governor fails to order such measure to be submitted to the people at the next statewide or general election, the Secretary of State shall, by proclamation, order such measure to be submitted to the people at such an election and such order shall be sufficient to enable the people to vote.
Art. IV Part 3 §18 | DIRECT INITIATIVE OF LEGISLATION
2. Referral to electors unless enacted by the Legislature without change; number of signatures necessary on direct initiative petitions; dating signatures on petitions; competing measures. For any measure thus proposed by electors, the number of signatures shall not be less than 10% of the total vote for Governor cast in the last gubernatorial election preceding the filing of such petition. The date each signature was made shall be written next to the signature on the petition. A signature is not valid if it is dated more than one year prior to the date that the petition was filed in the office of the Secretary of State. The measure thus proposed, unless enacted without change by the Legislature at the session at which it is presented, shall be submitted to the electors together with any amended form, substitute, or recommendation of the Legislature, and in such manner that the people can choose between the competing measures or reject both. When there are competing bills and neither receives a majority of the votes given for or against both, the one receiving the most votes shall at the next statewide election to be held not less than 60 days after the first vote thereon be submitted by itself if it receives more than 1/3 of the votes given for and against both. If the measure initiated is enacted by the Legislature without change, it shall not go to a referendum vote unless in pursuance of a demand made in accordance with the preceding section. The Legislature may order a special election on any measure that is subject to a vote of the people.
3. Timing of elections; proclamation by Governor. The Governor shall, by proclamation, order any measure proposed to the Legislature as herein provided, and not enacted by the Legislature without change, referred to the people at an election to be held in November of the year in which the petition is filed. If the Governor fails to order a measure proposed to the Legislature and not enacted without change to be submitted to the people at such an election by proclamation within 10 days after the recess of the Legislature to which the measure was proposed, the Secretary of State shall, by proclamation, order such measure to be submitted to the people at an election as requested, and such order shall be sufficient to enable the people to vote.
Art. IV Part 3 §19 | EFFECTIVE DATE OF MEASURES APPROVED BY PEOPLE; VETO POWER LIMITED
Art. IV Part 3 §20 | MEANING OF WORDS "ELECTORS," "PEOPLE," "RECESS OF LEGISLATURE," "STATEWIDE ELECTION," "MEASURE," "CIRCULATOR," AND "WRITTEN PETITION"; WRITTEN PETITIONS FOR PEOPLE’S VETO; WRITTEN PETITIONS FOR DIRECT INITIATIVE
Art. IV Part 3 §21 | CITY COUNCIL OF ANY CITY MAY ESTABLISH DIRECT INITIATIVE AND PEOPLE’S VETO
Art. IV Part 3 §22 | ELECTION OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS, HOW GOVERNED
Art. IV Part 3 §23 | MUNICIPALITIES REIMBURSED ANNUALLY
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