PRINTER'S NO. 381
No. 349 Session of 1977
INTRODUCED BY COWELL, KERNICK, FISHER, GILLETTE, ITKIN, DUFFY,
ABRAHAM, NOVAK, FLAHERTY, MRKONIC, KNEPPER, POTT, VALICENTI,
TADDONIO, GOEBEL, ZORD, CESSAR, MISCEVICH, BROWN, STAPLETON
AND PARKER, FEBRUARY 15, 1977
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 15, 1977
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
2 of Pennsylvania reducing the number of Senators and Members
3 of the House of Representatives.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby resolves as follows:
6 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
7 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with
8 the provisions of Article XI thereof:
9 That section 16, Article II be amended to read:
10 § 16. Legislative districts.
11 The Commonwealth shall be divided into [50] 40 senatorial and
12 [203] 121 representative districts, which shall be composed of
13 compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population
14 as practicable. Each senatorial district shall elect one
15 Senator, and each representative district one Representative.
16 Unless absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town,
17 borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a
1 senatorial or representative district.
2 SCHEDULE
3 The first elections after reapportionment of the Commonwealth
4 under section 17 to conform to the foregoing amendment shall be
5 held in the year 1982. At the general election in the year 1982
6 Senators in even-numbered districts and all Representatives
7 shall be chosen to serve for two years and Senators in odd-
8 numbered districts shall be chosen to serve for four years.
9 Thereafter, all Senators shall be chosen to serve for four
10 years. The terms of all Senators in office in 1982 shall expire
11 November 30, 1982.
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