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North Dakota State Legislative Term Limits and Ballot Instruction Measure, Measure 5 (1996)
North Dakota Constitutional Measure 5 relates to term limits for Federal, Statewide, Executive, and Legislative office holders. It was on the November 5, 1996 election ballot in North Dakota where it was defeated, with 47.4% of voters in favor.
Text of measure
The language that appeared on the ballot:
This measure contains a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution limiting the terms of members of the United States House of Representatives to three terms, and terms of members of the United States Senate to two terms. The measure would instruct the North Dakota congressional delegation to work for the passage of this congressional term limit amendment. It would also require election ballots to display the words "DISREGARDED VOTER INSTRUCTION ON TERM LIMITS." for each incumbent congressional candidate who did not support the congressional term limit amendment, as determined by the Secretary of State. It would also require election ballots to display the words "DECLINED TO PLEDGE TO SUPPORT TERM LIMITS." for each non-incumbent candidate declining to sign a term limits pledge, as determined by the Secretary of State.
This measure would also establish term limits for the legislative and executive branches of state government. For legislative offices with a two-year term, the limit would be three terms. For legislative offices with a four-year term, the limit would be two terms. For executive branch offices with terms of more than four years, the limit would be one term. For executive branch offices with terms of not more than four years, the limit would be two terms. Service in another office established in Article V of the Constitution of North Dakota would not disqualify a person from serving in another such office. Any office which was an elective office on January 1, 1996 (Commissioner of Labor), would remain elective except by a further amendment to the Constitution of North Dakota voted after December 31, 1996. Any contrary amendment to the Constitution of North Dakota approved in 1996 would be expressly repealed to that extent.
