Sponsored by: Democratic Party of Washington County, Oregon Approved: 08/04/2013
A RESOLUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON
IN SUPPORT OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RAISE THE MINIMUM STANDARD FOR PASSAGE OF OREGON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
WHEREAS the Oregon State Constitution forms the foundation for all other legislation and litigation involving Oregon statutes and law, and;
WHEREAS the Oregon Constitution, Article XVII Sections 1 and 2 currently require only a simple majority to change the Constitution by referral from the legislature or by initiative, which is the same standard that applies to passage of simple statutes; and
WHEREAS common sense would dictate that the standard for passage of an amendment to the constitution should adhere to a higher standard, as its impact is so much greater than the impact of simple statutes:
WE, THEREFORE, MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON, RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. We support a constitutional amendment requiring that future amendments to the constitution proposed through the ballot initiative process or through referral from the legislature attain a supermajority of at least 3/5 of those casting votes;
Section 2. We support using the same supermajority standard for repeal of all future amendments passed under that standard;
Section 3. We support permitting amendments previously passed by a simple majority to be repealed or modified by a simple majority; and
Section 4. We support requiring that this proposed amendment require a 3/5 supermajority for its repeal.
Resolution submitted by the Democratic Party of Washington County, Oregon as approved February 27, 2013. Referred back to the Platform Committee by the DPO Central Committee, May 19, 2013. ADOPTED by the Democratic Party of Oregon on 4th day of August, 2013.
