1924 Constitutional Amendment (Electoral Succession Act)

The 1924 Constitutional Amendment, formally the Electoral Succession Act, was an emergency revision to the Constitution of Kresimiria passed to resolve the 1924 Constitutional Crisis.

The amendment permanently altered Article 8, changing the mechanism for filling vacant Senate seats from a system of succession based on previous election results to a system requiring a direct special election.

Background and Purpose

For a full history of the events surrounding this amendment, see the main article: 1924 Constitutional Crisis.

Following the assassination of Senator Ivana Simuna in November 1924, the original text of Article 8 proved unworkable. The constitution required the seat to be offered to the third-place candidate from the previous election. However, due to mass non-cooperation by the population of Moraviskameja and the interference of BRC-21, the designated successor could not be located by state authorities.

Facing a paralyzed legislature, Chair of the Assembly Filip Novak proposed this emergency amendment to bypass the succession clause.

The Amendment

The Act replaced the original text of Article 8.

• Original Text: Required the seat to be offered to the next highest-polling candidate from the previous election.
• Amended Text: Mandated that if a seat becomes vacant, a Special Election must be held in that district. The Act also included a temporary clause suspending the standard 21-day notice period for elections, allowing the government to fast-track the 1924 Special Election to December 29.

Voting Breakdown

The amendment was passed in an emergency session with a vote of 18–1 with heavy pressure on all Senators from Novak and the RPP to vote yes, with only Senator Josipa Vukel voting against it, arguing that holding an election under what she viewed as military occupation was illegitimate.

Liberal senator Eward Matek later wrote in his memoir that he put much consideration into his vote, but decided that for the safety of the democracy of the Republic, the election has to take place.