Liberia held a constitutional referendum on 3 May 1870, resubmitting a proposal to lengthen the terms of the president and national legislators. The vote became the center of a constitutional confrontation between President Edward James Roye and the Legislature.
Question before voters
The proposed amendment would double the presidential term from two to four years, House terms from two to four years, and Senate terms from four to eight years. It followed an earlier vote held with the 1869 general election.
Why the proposal returned
The 1869 result was disputed despite overwhelming reported public support. The Legislature therefore authorized the term proposal to be submitted again in May 1870.
Competing declarations
President Roye counted the votes and proclaimed that the amendment had passed. The Legislature rejected that declaration, arguing that the Constitution assigned the counting and declaration of referendum results to the Legislature rather than the president. It therefore treated the amendment as not adopted.
Constitutional crisis
Roye maintained that the longer term applied and attempted to prevent the regular 1871 presidential election. The Legislature and his opponents rejected that position. The confrontation contributed to the crisis that ended with Roye’s removal in October 1871.
Legal outcome
In January 1872 the Legislature declared that the Constitution had not been amended to lengthen the presidential term. Liberia therefore continued operating under the shorter term structure until later constitutional changes.
Results evidence
No complete settlement-by-settlement tally is presented here. The historically important result is the conflict between the president’s proclamation and the Legislature’s constitutionally asserted authority to count and declare the vote.
Evidence status
Disputed and institutionally rejected. The referendum occurred and Roye proclaimed approval, but the Legislature declined to recognize the amendment as validly adopted.