1949 Liberian constitutional referendum

Referendum abolishing the two-term limit on presidents

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A constitutional referendum was held in Liberia on 3 May 1949.^[1] The changes to the 1847 constitution were approved in the Legislature in 1948, and abolished the two-term limit on presidents.^[1] The change was approved by voters.^[1]

Constitutional change

The proposed changes would be to Chapter III.^[1]

Section	Original text	New text
Chapter III article 1	The Supreme Executive Power shall be vested in a President who shall be elected by the people and shall hold office for a term of eight years. He shall be Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy. He shall in the recess of the Legislature, have power to call out the Militia or any portion thereof, into actual service in defence of the Republic. He shall have power to make treaties, provided the Senate concur therein, by a vote of two thirds of the Senators present. He shall nominate, and with the advice and consent of the Senate appoint and commission, all Ambassadors, and other public Ministers and Consuls, Secretaries of State, of War, of the Navy, of the Treasury, Attorney General, all Judges of Courts, Sheriffs, Coroners, Marshals, Justices of the Peace, Clerks of Courts, Registers, Notaries Public, and all other officers of State civil and military, whose appointment may not be otherwise provided for by the Constitution, or by standing laws.	The Supreme Executive Power shall be vested in a President who shall be elected by the people and shall hold office for a term of eight years. No President may be elected for two consecutive terms of eight years, but should a majority of the ballots cast at a second or any other succeeding election by all of the electors voting thereat elect him, his second or any other succeeding term of office shall be for four years. He shall be Commander-in-chief of the Army, Navy and Air Forces. He shall in the recess of the Legislature, have power to call out the Militia or any portion thereof, into actual service in defence of the Republic. He shall have power to make treaties, provided the Senate concur therein, by a vote of two thirds of the Senators present. He shall nominate, and with the advice and consent of the Senate appoint and commission, all Ambassadors, and other public Ministers and Consuls, Secretaries of State, of National Defence, of the Treasury, Attorney General, all Judges of Courts, Sheriffs, Coroners, Marshals, Justices of the Peace, Clerks of Courts, Registers, Notaries Public, and all other officers of State civil and military, whose appointment may not be otherwise provided for by the Constitution, or by standing laws.
Chapter III article 5 section 1	All Ambassadors and other public Ministers, and Consuls, the Secretary of State, of War, of the Treasury, and of the Navy, the Attorney General, and Postmaster General shall hold their offices during the pleasure of the President. Justices of the peace, sheriffs, coroners, marshals, clerks of courts, registers, and notaries public, shall hold their offices for the term of two years from the date of their respective commissions; but may be removed from office within that time by the President, at his pleasure: and all other officers whose terms of office may not be otherwise limited by law, shall hold their offices during the pleasure of the President.	All Ambassadors and other public Ministers, and Consuls, the Secretary of State, of National Defence, and of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and Postmaster General shall hold their offices during the pleasure of the President. Justices of the peace, sheriffs, coroners, marshals, clerks of courts, registers, and notaries public, shall hold their offices for the term of two years from the date of their respective commissions; but may be removed from office within that time by the President, at his pleasure: and all other officers whose terms of office may not be otherwise limited by law, shall hold their offices during the pleasure of the President.

A two-thirds majority in the vote was necessary for the changes to be approved.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Liberia, 3 May 1949: Unlimited re-election of the president Direct Democracy (in German)

v t e Elections and referendums in Liberia
Presidential elections	1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1911 1915 1919 1923 1927 1931 1939 1943 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1985 1997 2005 2011 2017 2023
Legislative elections	1840 1847 1849 1851 1853 1855 1857 1859 1861 1863 1865 1867 1869 1871 1873 1875 1877 1879 1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 1895 1897 1899 1901 1903 1905 1907 1911 1915 1919 1923 1927 1931 1935 1939 1943 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1985 1997 2005 2011 2014 2017 2020 2023
Local elections	... 1986
Referendums	1846 1847 1849 1861 1869 1870 1907 1927 1935 1943 1945 1946 1949 1955 1972 1975 1984 2011 2020
See also: Elections and referendums in the Republic of Maryland