2010 parliamentary reform referendum

A referendum on parliamentary reform will be held on 3 June 2010. It will ask voters to approve an amendment to the Constitution of Ibagli abolishing the Senate and reducing the term of a Parliament to three years.

Background

In 2009, a referendum on electoral reform was passed. Soon afterwards, the Goodwin government announced its intention to introduce an amendment to the Constitution Act that would permit constitutional amendments to be made by the House of Commons alone if approved by a referendum. After its approval, the government announced in its 2009 throne speech that the first referendum under the Constitution Act would be on the subject of Senate abolition.

Effects

If approved, the amendment will:

• Abolish the Senate, making the Parliament unicameral
• Shorten the maximum term of a parliament to three years from the current five
• Change the constitutional amendment formula to a majority of the House of Commons and approval in a referendum or a three fourths majority in the House of Commons

Prime Minister Goodwin has stated that, if the amendment is approved, it will not go into force until after the current parliament is dissolved.