2009 -- S 0029

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LC00196

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2009

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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE (MARRIAGE)

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Tassoni, Walaska, Gallo, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: January 14, 2009

     Referred To: Senate Constitutional & Regulatory Issues

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     WHEREAS, The General Assembly seeks to empower the citizens of the state of Rhode

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Island with the right to determine by a vote of the people the question whether to extend lawful

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marriage in the state to a lawful union between two men and a lawful union between two women;

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and

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     RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the General

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Assembly voting therefore, an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of the State shall be

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proposed to the qualified electors of the state for their approval in accordance with the provisions

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of Article XIV of the Constitution, and upon such approval, new section 25, set forth below, be

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added to and included in Article I of the Constitution; and that said proposition of amendment

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shall be submitted to the electors for their approval or rejection at the next statewide general

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election, and said proposition of amendment shall appear on the ballots as the first referendum

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question posed and shall be preceded by the following explanation and space to "approve" or

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"reject", all of which shall be in substantially the following form:

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     1. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – MARRIAGE

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     Approval of this amendment will recognize and define marriage in the state of Rhode

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Island as a lawful union between one man and one woman, and/or a lawful union between two

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men, and/or a lawful union between two women.

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     APPROVE ________

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     REJECT ________

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     A new section shall be added to and included in Article I of the Constitution to read as

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follows:

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     Section 25. Marriage – Marriage shall be recognized and defined in Rhode Island as any

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lawful union between one man and one woman, and/or any lawful union between two men,

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and/or any lawful union between two women.

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     RESOLVED, That the voting places in the several cities and towns shall be kept open

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during the hours required by law for voting therein for general officers of the state; and be it

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further

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     RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause said proposition of amendment to be

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published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the said

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meetings of the said electors; and said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or notices to

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district meetings of said electors; the district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as

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now provided by law for the town, ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers

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of the state.

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LC00196

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