Regional Presidential Primaries and Caucuses Act of 1989

Regional Presidential Primaries and Caucuses Act of 1989 - Prohibits any State from conducting a presidential primary election except in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Establishes five regional primaries to be held in each presidential election year. Sets the dates for such primaries.

Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil suit in U.S. district court when there is reason to believe that a State is holding a primary in violation of this Act.

Authorizes necessary appropriations.

 
HR 1116 IH
101st CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 1116
To establish a series of five Presidential primaries at which the public may
express its preference for the nomination of an individual for election to
the office of President of the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 1989
Mr. ANDREWS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on House Administration
A BILL
To establish a series of five Presidential primaries at which the public may
express its preference for the nomination of an individual for election to
the office of President of the United States.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the
  `Regional Presidential Primaries and Caucuses Act of 1989'.
  SEC. 2. The Congress finds that--
  (1) the numerous elections and caucuses held by States for the expression
  of a preference for the nomination of individuals for election to the
  office of the President of the United States are conducted without any
  semblance of order;
  (2) the conventions held by national political parties for the purpose
  of nominating candidates for election to the offices of the President and
  the Vice President are vital to the process of selecting such candidates
  for national office; and
  (3) in order to preserve the effectiveness of the Presidential election
  process and to provide for the public welfare of the Nation, the Congress
  must regulate certain parts of the process for selecting candidates to
  the office of the President.
  SEC. 3. (a) No State shall conduct a Presidential primary, as defined in
  this Act, except in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
  (b)(1) Five regional Presidential primaries shall be held during each
  Presidential election year. The first regional primary shall be held on
  the second Tuesday in March of such year, and the remaining four regional
  primaries shall be held every third Tuesday thereafter.
  (2) Seventy days before the date of the first regional primary, the
  Commission shall determine by lot the region in which that primary is to
  be held. The Commission then shall determine by separate lot, conducted 70
  days before the date of each subsequent regional primary, except the last,
  the region in which each subsequent regional primary is to be held. A
  State may not hold a Presidential primary on a date other than the date
  assigned by the Commission to the region in which such State is located.
  (c) Whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe that a State is
  holding a Presidential primary in violation of the provisions of this
  section, he may bring a civil action in any appropriate United States
  district court for such relief as may be appropriate, including injunctive
  relief.
  SEC. 4. For the purposes of this Act, the term--
  (1) `Commission' means the Federal Election Commission;
  (2) `Presidential primary' means a primary, first tier caucuses, convention,
  or other means of expressing a preference for the nomination of individuals
  for election to the office of President of the United States or for the
  selection of delegates to a national nominating convention of a political
  party, except that such term does not include a national nominating
  convention of a political party;
  (3) `region' means any of the following five regions:
  (A) region 1 comprises Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
  Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New
  Jersey, Delaware, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
  (B) region 2 comprises Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia,
  and Pennsylvania;
  (C) region 3 comprises Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina,
  South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and
  the Virgin Islands;
  (D) region 4 comprises North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin,
  Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas; and
  (E) region 5 comprises Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming,
  California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii,
  American Samoa, and Guam; and
  (4) `State' means each of the 50 States of the United States, the District
  of Columbia, the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of
  Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
  SEC. 5. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
  necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.