STATE OF NEW JERSEY CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1947
COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AMENDMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Wednesday, July 2, 19471 These minutes were prepared by the Secretary of the Committee. (Morning session)
(The session began at 10:30 A.M.)
PRESENT: Carey, Ferry, Glass, Katzenbach, Park, Pursel, Schenk, Stanger and Taylor.
Chairman John F. Schenk presided.
The fourth meeting of the Committee on Rights, Privileges, Amendments and Miscellaneous Provisions was held in Room No. 5 of the Music Building.
The Chairman stated that at this time a hearing was scheduled on Article IX, Amendments, of the present Constitution, and inquired if anyone present desired to be heard.
Mrs. Arthur C. Gillette, of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, appeared and proceeded to read a brief2 Mrs. Gillette’s statement appears in the Appendix to these Committee Proceedings. which advocated that amendments require approval by one Legislature only and by a majority vote only. The League recommended submission of amendments to the voters at a general election because special elections are an unnecessary expense, and also recommended the removal of the present prohibition against amendments being submitted more than once in five years. The League also recommended that the question of holding a Constitutional Convention shall be passed on every 20 years by the voters, but the Legislature was to have the right, in addition, to provide for submission of the question at any general election.
Informal discussion followed regarding whether or not the Constitution should be difficult to change and whether the five-year limit before resubmitting a defeated amendment on the same matter should be shortened.
There was discussion as to the point in Mrs. Gillette’s brief of having the question submitted to the people on a ballot every 20 years, asking whether the people wanted a general revision of the Constitution by a convention.
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