MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Senator Albert Chie of Grand Kru County has called on the Liberian Senate to revisit and resubmit proposed amendments to the nation’s Constitution for approval via a national referendum. In a formal communication to the Senate plenary on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Senator Chie urged that key changes to several constitutional provisions be considered once again to ensure they are brought to the public for a vote.
The amendments he has put forward include significant alterations to Articles 28, 45, 47, 48, and 49, all of which would impact the tenure and structure of various government offices. For instance, he proposed the introduction of dual citizenship through a revision to Article 28, as well as a reduction in the terms of both Senators and Representatives. Under the suggested changes, Senators’ terms would be shortened from nine years to seven, while the term of members of the House of Representatives would drop from six years to five.
Additionally, the proposal seeks to amend the term limits for Senate leadership positions, including the President Pro Tempore and other officers, reducing their tenure from six years to five. Senator Chie also suggested that the election cycle for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and other House of Representatives officers be aligned with the five-year term. Further amendments are proposed to Articles 50, 83a, and 83c, which deal with the Presidential term and the timing of general elections. The amendments call for the Presidential term to be reduced from six years to five, and for the date of general elections to be moved from the second Tuesday of October to the second Tuesday of November each year. Another adjustment would shorten the time allowed for resolving election disputes from thirty days to fifteen.
Senator Chie reminded the Senate that these proposed amendments were first presented for a national referendum on December 8, 2020. However, they failed to meet the necessary threshold of two-thirds of the total vote, as required by Article 91 of the Constitution, and thus did not come into effect. Given this outcome, the former President Pro Tempore has asked the Senate to carefully review the amendments, consider necessary adjustments, and restart the process in accordance with constitutional requirements.
In response to the communication, the Senate plenary tasked its committees on Judiciary, Internal Affairs, and Autonomous Commissions and Agencies with taking up the matter. The committees have been instructed to provide their report on the proposed amendments within the next three weeks.
