To the editor:
I read with interest Dr. Winslow’s letter to the editor of April 22 claiming that Maine citizens are going to lose their rights if LD 754 or LD 1084, legislations to amend our State Constitution, are passed. It appears that she did not research to see just what the rules for amending our State Constitution are. Perhaps she should have. If she had, she might not have taken such a radical call to arms stance on the subject! She especially should have read Section 4 of Article X.
Each American state has its own rules and procedures that govern how its constitution can be amended.
The State of Maine’s constitution dictates that the constitution may be amended in only two ways:
Section 15 of Part III of Article IV, says the legislature can, by a two-thirds concurrent vote of both branches, call a constitutional convention. Maine has never called such a convention; however, two “constitutional commissions” were impaneled, one in 1876 and one in 1962, but neither led to significant changes.
Section 4 of Article X, says if the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine State Senate both vote by at least a two-thirds majority, a proposed amendment to the constitution can be placed on the statewide ballot on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November after the state legislature acts. Amendments proposed in this way become part of the constitution if they are approved by a simple majority vote of the state’s electorate.
The Maine Constitution of 1819 was the first state constitution in the United States that only required one legislative proposal followed by a vote of the people in order to amend itself. All other state constitutions up to Maine’s required two legislative actions.
This is hardly taking away the people’s rights to petition, is it? Our Constitution requires that these steps be taken in order to bring the proposed legislation to a vote by the citizens of Maine or by a Constitutional Convention. Our elected legislators have started the process by having the language and intent of both pieces of legislation reviewed, in depth, by two different committees. Based on those as yet to be returned reports, they will take the next steps as required under our current State Constitution.
Actions taken on LD 754 and LD 1084 are available to review on the Maine Legislature website. Their actions are in complete compliance with the State of Maine Constitution.
Michelle Sandelier
Presque Isle