Report Title:

Constitutional Amendment; Age Qualifications

 

Description:

Amends the constitution to change the age qualification for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor from the age of thirty years to the age of twenty‑five years.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1023

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

proposing an amendment to article v, section 1, of the hawaii constitution, to change the age qualification for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor from the age of thirty years to the age of twenty‑five years.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that amending the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to allow Hawaii residents, twenty-five years and older, to be a candidate for and hold the office of governor or lieutenant governor will inspire Hawaii's young people to participate in the leadership process.  There are many outstanding, qualified, and experienced candidates under thirty who are unable to run for the office of governor or lieutenant governor because of the current arbitrary age restriction of thirty years.

     While there are many successful entrepreneurs, military leaders, and elected officials who are under the age of thirty, young people are generally more disillusioned with government, and feel they are excluded and are not a part of the process.  Lowering the age to twenty-five for Hawaii's top elected officials will inspire young people, who will realize the door is open and the opportunity is there for them to represent our state as governor or lieutenant governor.

     The legislature further finds that a twenty-five year old, according to the United States Constitution, is qualified to run for and be elected to Congress, and therefore has the power to declare war, sending hundreds of thousands of American sons and daughters into combat, risking their lives.  Thousands of Hawaii soldiers of all ages recently returned from Iraq, and many of these returning veterans are young people who feel inspired from the experience to serve Hawaii in a leadership position.

     The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to article V, section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to reduce the age qualification for the office of governor from thirty years to twenty‑five years.  This amendment will also reduce the age for the lieutenant governor, as the qualifications are the same for both offices, as stated in article V, section 2.

     SECTION 2.  Article V, section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

     "THE EXECUTIVE

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE

     Section 1.  The executive power of the State shall be vested in a governor.  The governor shall be elected by the qualified voters of this State at a general election.  The person receiving the highest number of votes shall be the governor.  In case of a tie vote, the selection of the governor shall be determined as provided by law.

     The term of office of the governor shall begin at noon on the first Monday in December next following the governor's election and end at noon on the first Monday in December, four years thereafter.

     No person shall be elected to the office of governor for more than two consecutive full terms.

     No person shall be eligible for the office of governor unless the person shall be a qualified voter, have attained the age of [thirty] twenty-five years and have been a resident of this State for five years immediately preceding the person's election.

     The governor shall not hold any other office or employment of profit under the State or the United States during the governor's term of office."

    SECTION 3.  The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

    "Shall the age qualification for the office of governor and office of lieutenant governor be reduced from thirty years of age to twenty-five years of age?"

     SECTION 4.  Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New constitutional material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This amendment shall take effect upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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