Article XIV: Additional Amendments

SECTION 1: NO COMPENSATION FOR PUBLIC OFFICE (Repealed)

No elected official in the State of San Andreas, at the state, county, or municipal level, shall receive compensation, salary, or stipend for holding public office. This provision is intended to ensure that public service is undertaken for the benefit of the citizenry and not for personal financial gain. The Legislature may, however, provide for the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred by officials in the performance of their duties.

SECTION 2: THE RIGHT TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT

(a) The people of the State of San Andreas reserve to themselves the power to propose amendments to this Constitution through the process of initiative petition, independent of the General Assembly.

(b) An initiative petition to propose a constitutional amendment shall contain the full text of the proposed amendment and shall be signed by a number of qualified electors equal to at least ten percent (10%) of the total electorate in the State of San Andreas, or thirty percent (30%) of the total electorate within a defined legislative district.

(c) Petitions shall be filed with the Secretary of State no later than two (2) months prior to the next general or coordinated election. The Secretary of State shall prescribe by law the form, verification, and submission of such petitions and shall certify valid petitions for placement on the ballot.

(d) Upon certification, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the people at the next general or coordinated election. The amendment shall become part of this Constitution if approved by at least fifty-five percent (55%) of the qualified electors voting thereon, as prescribed by Article VII, Section 4.

(e) No initiative amendment shall contain more than one subject, and the subject of the amendment shall be clearly expressed in its title. The Supreme Court of San Andreas shall have original jurisdiction to determine compliance with this provision prior to the referendum date of the first day of October before the general or coordinated election in November.

(f) An amendment proposed by citizen initiative shall not be subject to gubernatorial veto and shall take effect immediately upon proclamation of the vote by the Governor, unless the amendment provides otherwise.

SECTION 3: VACANCIES IN ELECTED OFFICE

(a) This section shall govern all vacancies in elected offices throughout the State, including state, county, municipal, and other local offices, regardless of the manner of election.

(b) A vacancy shall be deemed to occur in any elected office upon the resignation, impeachment and removal, conviction resulting in incarceration, or other permanent incapacity of the officeholder.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, any vacancy shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled election held in November. Candidates seeking to fill a vacancy shall file a letter of intent with the Secretary of State, or, in the case of a local office, with the appropriate local election authority. The office shall remain vacant until such election, unless otherwise provided by this section.

(d) In the event of a vacancy in either house of the State Legislature, the chamber may temporarily designate a sitting member of the same chamber to represent the affected district until a successor is elected at the next general election pursuant to subsection (c).

(e) If the deadline for inclusion on the ballot of the next general election has already passed at the time a vacancy occurs, a special election shall be held no later than January 6 following the vacancy.

(f) All elected officials statewide, whether filling an unexpired term or beginning a new full term, shall be sworn into office on the second Tuesday of January, at which time their official duties shall commence.

SECTION 4: CITIZEN LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS

(a) Any citizen of the State of San Andreas, qualified to vote under this Constitution, shall possess the right to propose legislation to the General Assembly.

(b) A proposal submitted by a citizen shall be introduced in writing, in a form consistent with the rules of legislative drafting, and transmitted to the presiding officer of the General Assembly. Such proposal shall thereupon be referred to the appropriate committee or body as determined by the rules of the Assembly.

(c) Citizens exercising this right shall not be deemed members of the General Assembly and shall not participate in debate upon the floor, nor cast any vote upon legislation. Their power shall be limited to the introduction of bills, resolutions, or amendments for the consideration of the Assembly.

(d) The General Assembly shall, by law, prescribe procedures for the submission, review, and consideration of citizen-proposed legislation, ensuring that such procedures are fair, accessible, and consistent with the orderly conduct of legislative business.

(e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to diminish the rights of the people to propose laws or constitutional amendments through initiative or referendum, as may otherwise be provided by this Constitution.

SECTION 5: ACTS OF WAR

(a) No act of war, nor any measure amounting to a declaration of war, the commencement of hostilities, or the authorization of armed conflict by the forces of this State, shall be undertaken except by the express approval of not less than two-thirds of the duly elected members of each chamber of the General Assembly.

(b) The Governor shall not, in the absence of such approval, commit the State to military action, nor deploy the organized militia or other forces of the State for offensive purposes, save in cases of invasion, insurrection, or imminent danger requiring immediate defensive action.

(c) Any defensive measures undertaken by the Governor without prior approval shall be reported forthwith to the General Assembly, which shall determine by a vote of no less than two-thirds of each chamber whether such measures shall be continued, modified, or terminated.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit the authority of the United States, under the Constitution thereof, to declare war or to command the armed forces of the nation, nor to diminish the duty of this State to render aid when lawfully called forth in the service of the Union.

Sec. 6 Disqualification from Office – (a) No person convicted of a felony under the laws of this State, the United States, or any other state or territory shall be eligible to hold any statewide office, including all executive officers, members of the Legislature, and all judicial offices. Eligibility may be restored only upon the granting of a pardon or judicial restoration of civil rights. Counties and municipalities may establish their own rules for eligibility to hold local office.

(b) Any person convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of engaging in, aiding, or providing material support for violent rebellion, insurrection, or armed resistance against the State of San Andreas or its constitutional institutions shall be permanently disqualified from holding any public office of this State. This disqualification is absolute and shall not be subject to pardon, commutation, or restoration.

(c) The qualifications and disqualifications set forth in this Article for statewide office shall be exclusive, and may not be altered except by constitutional amendment.

SECTION 6: DISQUALIFICATION FROM OFFICE

(a) No person convicted of a felony under the laws of this State, the United States, or any other state or territory shall be eligible to hold any statewide office, including all executive officers, members of the Legislature, and all judicial offices. Eligibility may be restored only upon the granting of a pardon or judicial restoration of civil rights. Counties and municipalities may establish their own rules for eligibility to hold local office.

(b) Any person convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of engaging in, aiding, or providing material support for violent rebellion, insurrection, or armed resistance against the State of San Andreas or its constitutional institutions shall be permanently disqualified from holding any public office of this State. This disqualification is absolute and shall not be subject to pardon, commutation, or restoration.

(c) The qualifications and disqualifications set forth in this Article for statewide office shall be exclusive, and may not be altered except by constitutional amendment.

SECTION 7: CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS

(a) The rights protected by the Constitution of the State of San Andreas are the rights of natural persons and do not extend to for-profit corporations, limited liability companies, or other private entities established for business purposes or to promote business interests under the laws of this state.

(b) Such corporate and other private entities established under law are subject to regulation by the people through the legislative process so long as such regulations are consistent with the powers of the General Assembly of this state, and do not limit the freedom of the press.

(c) Such corporate and other private entities shall be prohibited from making contributions or expenditures in any election of any candidate for public office or the vote upon any ballot measure submitted to the people.

(d) The General Assembly shall have the power to regulate and set limits on all election contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own spending, and to authorize the establishment of political committees to receive, spend, and publicly disclose the sources of those contributions and expenditures.