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H.J. Res. 254 96th Congress House

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for the direct popular election of the President and Vice President of the United States.

Introduced: March 13, 1979 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Constitution and constitutional amendmentsConstitutional amendmentsElectoral collegePresidential elections
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Presidents and Vice PresidentsVice Presidential electionsVice PresidentsVoting
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This bill died when the 96th Congress ended
It never became law before the 96th Congress (1979–1980) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 13, 1979
Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 13, 1979
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 13, 1979

Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Constitutional Amendment - Provides that the people of the several States and the District constituting the Seat of Government of the United States shall elect the President and Vice President. Requires each elector to cast a single vote for two persons who shall have consented to the joining of their names as candidates for the offices of President and Vice President.

Requires the electors of President and Vice President in each State to have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature, except that for electors of President and Vice President, the legislature of any State may prescribe less restrictive residence qualifications and for electors of President and Vice President the Congress may establish uniform residence qualifications.

Provides that the pair of persons having the greatest number of votes for President and Vice President shall be elected, if such number be at least 40 percent of the whole number of votes cast. Provides that if no pair of persons has such number, a runoff election shall be held in which the choice of President and Vice President shall be made from the two pairs of persons who received the highest number of votes.

Requires the days for such elections to be determined by Congress and to be uniform throughout the United States. Requires Congress to prescribe by law the time, place, and manner in which the results for such elections shall be ascertained and declared.

Allows Congress to provide for the case of the death, inability, or withdrawal of any candidate for President or Vice President before a President and Vice President have been elected, and for the case of the death of both the President-elect and Vice President-elect.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HJRES 7 Identical bill A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to the election of the Pres…
 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.J. Res. 254: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for the direct popular election of the President and Vice President of the United States.. 96th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HJRES-254/
MLA
"H.J. Res. 254: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for the direct popular election of the President and Vice President of the United States.." 96th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HJRES-254/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.J. Res. 254, 96th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HJRES-254/.
Markdown link
[H.J. Res. 254: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for the direct popular election of the President and Vice President of the United States.](https://openamerica.io/bill/96-HJRES-254/)
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