Liberian constitutional referendum, 1945

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A constitutional referendum was held in Liberia on 1 May 1945. [1] The change to the constitution was approved in the Legislature in December 1945, and would grant the right to vote to citizens living in the three inland provinces, providing they paid a "hut tax". [1] It also granted parliamentary representation to Grand Cape Mount County and Marshall territory. [1] The changes were approved by voters. [1]

Liberia republic in West Africa

Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean to its south-southwest. It covers an area of 111,369 square kilometers (43,000 sq mi) and has a population of around 4,700,000 people. English is the official language and over 20 indigenous languages are spoken, representing the numerous ethnic groups who make up more than 95% of the population. The country's capital and largest city is Monrovia.

Legislature of Liberia

The Legislature of Liberia is the bicameral legislature of the government of Liberia. It consists of a Senate – the upper house, and a House of Representatives – the lower house, modeled after the United States Congress. Sessions are held at the Capitol Building in Monrovia. Legislature of Liberia is considered one of the three branches of government based on the Article III of the Constitution of Liberia that stipulates all three branches ought to be equal and coordinated based on the Principle of checks and balances.

Grand Cape Mount County County in Robertsport, Liberia

Grand Cape Mount is a county in the northwestern portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that constitute the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has five districts. Robertsport serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring 5,162 square kilometres (1,993 sq mi). As of the 2008 Census, it had a population of 129,817, making it the eighth most populous county in Liberia. The county is bordered by Gbarpolu County to the northeast and Bomi County to the southeast. The northern part of Grand Cape Mount borders the nation of Sierra Leone, while to the west lies the Atlantic Ocean.

Constitutional change

The proposed changes would be to Chapter I, article 11 and Chapter II, article 2. [1]

SectionOriginal textNew text
Chapter I
article 11
All elections shall be by ballot and every male citizen, of twenty-one years of age, possessing real estate, shall have the right of suffrage.All elections shall be by ballot and every male citizen, of twenty-one years of age, possessing real estate, shall have the right of suffrage. When applied to voters in the Provinces of the hinterland of the Republic, "possessing real estate" shall be construed to include possessing a hut on which he pays the hut tax.
Chapter II
article 2
The representatives shall be elected by, and for the inhabitants of the several counties of Liberia, and shall be apportioned among the several Counties of Liberia as follows: The County of Montserrado shall have four representatives; the County of Grand Bassa shall have three representatives; the County of Sinoe shall have three representatives; the County of Maryland shall have three representatives; and all counties that shall hereafter be admitted in the Republic shall have one representative; and for every ten thousand inhabitants one representative shall be added. No person shall be a representative who has not resided in the county two whole years immediately previous to his election and who shall not when elected, be an inhabitant of the county, and does not own unencumbered real estate of not less value than one thousand dollars in the county in which he resides and who shall not have attained the age of twenty-three years.The representatives shall be elected by, and for the inhabitants of the several counties and provinces of Liberia, and shall be apportioned among the several Counties and Provinces of Liberia as follows: The County of Montserrado shall have five representatives; the Territory of Marshall shall have one representative; the County of Grand Bassa shall have four representatives; the County of Sinoe shall have four representatives; the County of Maryland shall have four representatives; the County of Grand Cape Mount shall have three representatives; and the three existing Provinces of the Republic situated in the hinterland thereof shall each have one representative; and all counties that shall hereafter be admitted in the Republic shall have one representative; and for every ten thousand inhabitants one representative shall be added. No person shall be a representative who has not resided in the county or province two whole years immediately previous to his election and who shall not when elected, be an inhabitant of the county, and does not own unencumbered real estate of not less value than one thousand dollars in the county in which he resides or who in the provinces shall not own a hut in which he resides and for which he pays the hut tax; and who shall not have attained the age of twenty-three years.

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

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