Subject to approval by the voters at the November 2012 general election, adds a new Section 25 to Article II of the North Carolina Constitution setting term limits for terms of office beginning after January 1, 2015, as follows: (1) no person may be elected to more than three consecutive four-term terms to the House of Representatives (House) and (2) no person may be elected to more than three consecutive four-year terms to the Senate. Also provides that if a person fills a vacancy and takes office during the first calendar year of the term, the filling of that vacancy is considered as election to a term for the purpose of the term limits proposed in new Section 25. Prohibits a person disqualified under proposed Section 25 from election to the next succeeding term from filling a vacancy in the succeeding term.
Amends Section 2 in Article II of the NC Constitution to provide that the Senators will be chosen every four years (rather than every two years), as follows: (1) the members in even-numbered districts will be elected to four-year terms, beginning in 2014; (2) the members in odd-numbered districts will be elected to two-year terms in 2014 and to four-year terms beginning in 2016. Makes corresponding changes to Section 4 (House of Representatives).
Amends Section 14(1) in Article II of the NC Constitution to limit the service of a member as President Pro Tempore to the earlier of (1) the end of that Senator’s term of office, or (2) the qualification of a new Lieutenant Governor.
Makes the constitutional amendments effective January 1, 2013, and provides that the changes do not affect the terms of members elected in 2012.