Grand Kru County Senator Albert T. Chie wrote the Plenary of the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 to revisit and resubmit eight proposed amendments to the 1986 Constitution. Senator Chie said eight proposed amendments to the Constitution which was submitted for National Referendum on December 8, 2020, but were not approved by the electorates.
The Grand Kru Senator said although all the proposed amendments received majority votes of Liberians who participated in the referendum, they however fell short of the required two-third of the total votes as mandated in Article 91 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, and consequently could not take effect.
He said there was a proposed amendment to Article 28 of the constitution to provide for the inalienability of the citizenship of natural born citizens of Liberia (Dual Citizenship); amendment 2: To amend Article 45 of the Constitution to provide for the reduction of the term of Senators from nine (9) Years to seven (7) years.
According to him, there was also a proposal to amend Article 47 of the constitution to provide for election of a President Pro-tempore and other officers of the Senate for a term of five (5) years and to amend Article 48 of the Constitution to provide for the reduction in the term of Members of the House of Representatives from six (6) years to five (5) years.
Others proposed amendments included, “Article 49 of the Constitution to provide for election of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other officers of the House of Representatives for a term of five (5) years; to amend Article 50 of the Constitution to provide for the reduction in the term of the President from six (6) years to five (5) years; to amend Article 83 (a) of the Constitution to change the date for General Elections from Second Tuesday of October to Second Tuesday of November in each election year; and to amend Article 83 (c) of the Constitution to reduce the time frame for resolution of complaints emanating from General Elections from thirty (30) days to fifteen (15) days. Madam President Pro-tempore.”
Senator Chie is requesting the Plenary to review the proposed amendments and make the relevant adjustments, including reduction and addition, and begin the process, in line with Article 91 of the Constitution, towards a national referendum.
He wants Plenary to ensure that an adequate and well-funded preparatory process is put in place, such as extensive and in-depth voter’s education, prior to the resulting national referendum.
