A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to limit members of the general assembly to limit members to three consecutive four‑year terms, and to provide for staggered four‑year terms.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article II of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding a new section to read:
"Sec. 25.  Limitation of consecutive terms.
(1)	No person shall be eligible for election to more than three consecutive four‑year terms as a member of the House of Representatives, nor be eligible for election to more than three consecutive four‑year terms as a member of the Senate. If a person fills a vacancy, it shall be considered as election to a term for the purpose of this section if the person takes office during the first calendar year of the term.
(2)	Terms of office beginning before January 1, 2015, shall not be considered for the purpose of this section.
(3)	A person disqualified by this section from election to the next succeeding term as a member of the House of Representatives may not fill a vacancy in that body in the succeeding term. A person disqualified by this section from election to the next succeeding term as a member of the Senate may not fill a vacancy in that body in the succeeding term."
SECTION 2.  Section 2 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 2.  Number of Senators.
The Senate shall be composed of 50 Senators, quadrennially chosen by ballot. In 2014, and quadrennially thereafter, the members from even‑numbered districts shall be elected for four‑year terms. In 2014, the members from odd‑numbered districts shall be elected for two‑year terms and in 2016, and quadrennially thereafter, shall be elected for four‑year terms."
SECTION 3.  Section 4 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 4.  Number of Representatives.
The House of Representatives shall be composed of 120 Representatives, quadrennially chosen by ballot. In 2014, and quadrennially thereafter, the members from even‑numbered districts shall be elected for four‑year terms. In 2014, the members from odd‑numbered districts shall be elected for two‑year terms and in 2016, and quadrennially thereafter, shall be elected for four‑year terms."
SECTION 4.  Section 14(1) of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as rewritten:
"(1)	President Pro Tempore – succession to presidency. The Senate shall elect from its membership a President Pro Tempore, who shall become President of the Senate upon the failure of the Lieutenant Governor‑elect to qualify, or upon succession by the Lieutenant Governor to the office of Governor, or upon the death, resignation, or removal from office of the President of the Senate, and who shall serve until the first to occur of:
(a)	The expiration of that Senator's term of office.
(b)	The qualification of a new Lieutenant Governor."
SECTION 5.  The amendments set out in Sections 1 through 4 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election on November 6, 2012, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes.  The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be:
"[ ] FOR    [ ] AGAINST
Constitutional amendments limiting members to three consecutive four‑year terms in the House of Representatives and three consecutive four‑year terms in the Senate, and providing for staggered four‑year terms."
SECTION 6.  If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendments set out in Sections 1 through 4 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendments to the Secretary of State. The amendments become effective January 1, 2013, but do not affect the terms of office of members elected in 2012. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendments so certified among the permanent records of that office.
SECTION 7.  This act is effective when it becomes law.