444 ADDRESSES AND STATE PAPERS

ordinate to the single constitutional issue you must confront. Is the
attainment of twenty-one years of age a just, logical, pertinent or
valid qualification for enfranchisement?

In Article II, tightening the referendum procedure and eliminating
certain legislation from referendum petition are desirable. This por-
tion removes ambiguities which clouded the 1867 Constitution yet
guarantees the important right of referendum most effectively in
terms of Maryland's present and projected population. There is one
mechanical difficulty with Section 2. 08, however, which could cause
trouble. In cases where there is a very short space of time between the
date a bill becomes law and the date the bill becomes effective as
law, the referendum petition could not be completed in time to stay
the law's becoming operative. This would mean that a law, passed
by a simple legislative majority and made effective immediately,
would have to be implemented by the executive branch prior to
referendum vote and would remain in force until 30 days after a
possible defeat.

The point is that the implementation of some laws is costly and
we have always, and properly I believe, felt that if a law to be ques-
tioned by a referendum vote is to be effective while that vote is
awaited, it must be passed by a three-fifths majority of both houses
of the Legislature. Therefore, I suggest that the Constitution provide
that any bill which is to become effective less than sixty days from
the date that bill becomes law must be enacted by a three-fifths ma-
jority of both houses.

Article III defines the scope and powers of the legislative branch.
I support the retention of the bicameral form, particularly for the
reasons expressed in Points 2, 3, 4, and 9 of the comments to the
draft Constitution.

Section 3. 03 of the draft instrument, providing for mandatory re-
districting and reapportionment, will assure fair and reasonable repre-
sentation on a continuing basis.

Section 3. 12 of the draft Constitution enables the General Assembly
to convene special sessions on its own initiative. I endorse this measure
as a logical and reasonable means to strengthen legislative authority.

However, I seriously question the draft's mandate to convene each
regular session of the General Assembly on the third Wednesday of
January. As Governor-elect, I was acutely aware that this time factor
severely inhibits review of the previous administration's budgetary
recommendations and preparation of a legislative program. For all