Editorial: The Second Proposed Constitutional Amendment

ARTICLE 45 OF the 1986 Constitution reads, “The Senate shall be composed of senators elected for a term of nine years by the registered voters in each of the counties, but a senator elected in a by-election to fill a vacancy created by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, shall be so elected to serve only the remainder of the unexpired term of office. Each county shall elect two senators and each senator shall have one vote in the Senate. Senators shall be eligible for re-election.”

PROPOSITION 2 WAS proposed by the National Legislature to afford the Liberian voter the opportunity to decide whether senators should serve for seven years instead of nine years. The current nine years, according to data collected by relevant institutions, including the Constitution Review Committee (CRC), is too long. It is said that the tenure is so long that a child born in the year in which a senator is first inducted into office will be eligible to vote (18 years) when that senator’s second term expires.

IN THE MINDS of those proposing for this article to be amended, a long term does not incentivize a senator to perform will, especially during his second term; therefore, reducing the term to seven (7) years seems appropriate to address those concerns.

IF AMENDED, ARTICLE 45 will read, “The Senate shall be composed of senators elected for a term of seven years by the registered voters in each of the counties, but a senator elected in a by-election to fill a vacancy created by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, shall be so elected to serve only the remainder of the unexpired term of office. Each country shall elect two senators and each senator shall have one vote in the Senate. Senators shall be eligible for re-election. Immediately upon the passage of this amendment and its printing into handbills, all senators shall be elected for the term of seven (7) years.”

IF THE VOTER votes “yes” for Proposition 2 at the National Referendum on December 8, 2020, it means the person is agreeing for the tenure of the Senators to be reduced from nine years to seven years. However, if the voter votes “no”, it means the person do not agree to any change in Article 48 of the 1986 Constitution, and that the tenure of the senators should remain at nine years.