Report Title:

Elected Officials; Proper Pronunciation

Description:

Proposes amendments to the state constitution to include the proper pronunciation of Hawaiian and English words as a requisite qualification for persons seeking elective executive and legislative offices.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

987

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

proposing amendments to articles iii and v of the constitution of the state of hawaii to include the proper pronunciation of WORDS IN THE hawaiian and english languageS as a requisite qualification for persons seeking elective executive and legislative offices.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to propose amendments to article III, section 6, and article V, section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to include the correct pronunciation of Hawaiian and English language words as a requisite qualification for persons seeking elective executive and legislative offices.

SECTION 2. Article 3, section 6, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS

Section 6. No person shall be eligible to serve as a member of the senate unless the person [shall have] has been a resident of the State for not less than three years, [have] has attained the age of majority [and be], is a qualified voter of the senatorial district from which the person seeks to be elected[.], and is a person who correctly pronounces words in both the Hawaiian and English languages. No person shall be eligible to serve as a member of the house of representatives unless the person [shall have] has been a resident of the State for not less than three years, [have] has attained the age of majority [and be], is a qualified voter of the representative district from which the person seeks to be elected[.], and is a person who correctly pronounces words in both the Hawaiian and English languages."

SECTION 3. Article 5, section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE

Section 1. The executive power of the State shall be vested in a governor. The governor shall be elected by the qualified voters of this State at a general election. The person receiving the highest number of votes shall be the governor. In case of a tie vote, the selection of the governor shall be determined as provided by law.

The term of office of the governor shall begin at noon on the first Monday in December next following the governor's election and end at noon on the first Monday in December, four years thereafter.

No person shall be elected to the office of governor for more than two consecutive full terms.

No person shall be eligible for the office of governor unless the person [shall be] is a qualified voter, [have] has attained the age of thirty years [and have], has been a resident of this State for five years immediately preceding the person's election[.], and is a person who correctly pronounces words in both the Hawaiian and English languages.

The governor shall not hold any other office or employment of profit under the State or the United States during the governor's term of office."

SECTION 4. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to include the correct pronunciation of words in the Hawaiian and English languages as a requisite qualification for persons seeking elective executive and legislative offices?"

SECTION 5. Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:

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