A constitutional referendum held on 3 May 1949 changed Liberia’s rules for presidential reelection and reshaped the balance between continuity in office and constitutional limits on executive power.
Question before voters
The principal amendment concerned Chapter III of the 1847 Constitution. It replaced the earlier restriction on consecutive eight-year presidential terms with a system under which the first term remained eight years and a president returned to office for a second or later consecutive term would serve four years.
Practical effect
The amendment removed the effective two-term barrier and permitted repeated presidential reelection. It became especially consequential during the presidency of William V. S. Tubman, who remained in office until his death in 1971.
Related constitutional language
Historical summaries also record administrative wording changes reflecting the organization of national defence and the armed forces. The central political consequence, however, was the revised reelection provision.
Reported outcome
The proposal had been approved by the Legislature in 1948 and is reported to have received the required two-thirds support in the 1949 referendum. No complete independently verified national return has been located for this entry.
Democratic significance
Presidential term rules determine how frequently political power must be contested. The 1949 change formally preserved elections while allowing an incumbent to seek additional four-year terms without a fixed overall limit.
Evidence status
Partial historical record. The date, amendment subject and reported adoption are documented. Exact vote totals, turnout, county returns and a complete certified result remain under archival review.