A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO LIMIT MEMBERS OF THE general assembly TO FOUR CONSECUTIVE TERMS IN A HOUSE.
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 four consecutive terms as a member of the House of Representatives. No person shall be eligible for election to more than four consecutive 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, 2011, 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.  The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the general election in November 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 amendment limiting members to four consecutive terms in the Senate or House of Representatives."
SECTION 3.  If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The amendment becomes effective upon certification. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office.
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.