MS HC36

Amend Section 254 of the Mississippi Constitution to establish five specific criteria for legislative apportionment that must be followed beginning with the next decennial census reapportionment.

Require all legislative districts to be single-member districts with substantially equal population between districts of the same chamber (Senate or House).

Divide counties as little as practicable and keep counties whole within a single district if practicable; divide municipalities as little as practicable.

Maintain existing procedures for legislative apportionment by majority vote every ten years, with Governor-convened special sessions and a five-member commission serving as backstops if the Legislature fails to apportion.

Submit the proposed amendment to voters on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November 2016.