1943 Liberian constitutional referendum

Referendum requiring birth citizenship or 25-year residence for the president

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A constitutional referendum was held in Liberia on 4 May 1943, alongside general elections. The changes to the constitution required the president to be a Liberian citizen by birth or to have lived in Liberia for at least 25 years, as well as allowing constitutional referendums to be held separately from general elections. The changes were approved by voters.

Constitutional change

The proposed changes would be to Chapters III and V.

Section	Original text	New text
Chapter III article 7	No person shall be eligible to the office of President, who has not been a citizen of this Republic for at least fifteen years; and who is not possessed of unencumbered real estate, of the value of two thousand and five hundred dollars.	No person shall be eligible to the office of President, who is not a citizen of this Republic by birth or a naturalised citizen of over twenty-five years residence; and who is not possessed of unencumbered real estate, of the value of two thousand and five hundred dollars."
Chapter V article 17	This Constitution may be altered whenever two-thirds of both branches of the Legislature shall deem it necessary; in which case the alteration or amendments shall first be considered and approved by the Legislature by the concurrence of two-thirds of the Members of each branch and afterwards by them submitted to the people and adopted by two-thirds of all the electors at the next biennial meeting for the election of Senators and Representatives.	This Constitution may be altered whenever two-thirds of both branches of the Legislature shall deem it necessary; in which case the alteration or amendments shall first be considered and approved by the Legislature by the concurrence of two-thirds of the Members of each branch and afterwards by them submitted to the people and adopted by two-thirds of all the electors at a special election called for that purpose.

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

References

^ Liberia, 4 May 1943: Requirements for the president, date of constitutional referendums 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
By-elections	... 2006 2007 2009 2010 2013 2018 2019 2021 2022 2024
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

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