City Counselor Ops. The people retain the right to initiate and adopt ordinances. The people's power to amend the charter does not preclude amendments by the board of aldermen. State v. City of St. Louis . Initiative and referendum are essentially different.
Initiative is the proposal of legislation by the public.
It has no need for time limits and warrants a lesser initial support to justify submission to the voters. Referendum is the overturning of legislation enacted by the representatives of the people. It requires strict time limits so is not to unduly delay the effectiveness of duly enacted legislation and warrants a greater showing of initial support. The two are not, by their very nature, interchangeable. State ex rel.