INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 9
SPONSOR: Randy Russell, 764 Lakeland Drive, Suite 308, Jackson, MS 39216;
601-362-5434
SUBJECT MATTER: Term Limits
BALLOT TITLE: Should state legislators be limited to two (2) consecutive
terms in each legislative body?
BALLOT SUMMARY: This initiative would amend the Mississippi Constitution
to limit the number of consecutive terms a person can serve in the state
legislature to no more than two (2) terms in the house and two (2) terms in the
senate after the adoption of this amendment with terms being deemed consecutive
unless separated by a full four (4) year term.
ORIGINAL FILING: April 30, 1997
STATUS: Defeated by voters at November 2, 1999 General Election
(54.9%-45.1%).
Initiative Information
The official ballot title and ballot summary for an initiative measure are
prepared by the Mississippi Attorney General's Office. Initiative petitions are
valid for one year. According to Mississippi law, for an initiative petition to
be sufficient a minimum of 91,673 certified signatures must be gathered; with at
least 18,355 certified signatures from each of the five congressional districts.
The number of signatures required represents 12% of the total number of votes
cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial general election. All signatures on
the petition must be certified by county Circuit Clerks as those of registered
Mississippi voters.
For more information on the initiative process in Mississippi, consult the
Mississippi Constitution of 1890, Section 273; and Miss. Code Ann., Sections
23-17-1 through 23-17-61 (1972).