The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-01-27
WHAT IS 1T?
E|.iott's Bill Providing For the Initiative
and Referendum.


The following is the complete text
Of the bill introduced by Representa-
tive Elliott, of Silver Bow, and known
as House Bill no. IS:
All. Act Providing for the submission to the
uutIifird Es!ry,,ors Of the st;ltc an Amend
| ilert TO Sections and ~, or 1nc tonsl1u-
| ton relating to the Legislative Department
Section /. There shall be snbmit-
ted to the qualified electors OF the
state at tile next general election the
following am cndmcnts to tue state
constitution. ),
That section Of Article 5 Shall
be amended SO as to read as follows:
Section /. The right to Opropose
laws for the state, in addition to be-
ing exercised by members or the SEN
ate and house Of representatives, shall
rest with any proportion OF the clll-
zcns OF the state, not less than hltcen
per cent, which may be determined
bv statute law. The right to pro
pose laws for any political subdiyi-
sion of the state, as county, city,
township or village. in addition to
being exercised by members OF the
legislative body or city councils, as
! at present, shall rest with any pro
portion of the citizens Of such politi-
! cal subdivision, not less than fifteen
per cent. which may be determined
! BY statute law. The method to be
] employed in thus proposing laws
! shall be known as the Initiative.
! The right to reject or approve pro
! posed state laws snail rest with the
~ nj f,f + nn Ctn3n
Z who shall express their approval or
s disapproval by secret ballot in con-
4 }ornitv with the election laws OF the
! state in force at the time OF such cX-
] preston OF the popular will. The
I right to approve or reject proposed
J laws Of any political subdivision OF
= the state, as county, city, township
4 or village, Shall rest with the majori-
& ty of the citizens Of such political
i subdivision, in the same manner as
3 : state laws are approved or rejected.
= This method OF approval or REJECTION
i OF laws shall be known as the refer
q endum.
8 The senate and house Of represent.
q atives, at it's first session after the
i adoption Of this amendment, snail,
4 and when necessary from time TO
s time thereafter may, pass laws to
i carry the amendment uinto effect.
= such laws may provide that meas
n urcs for the immediate preservation
Of the public peace, health and safety
Shall take effect Immediately, bu
must provide that no other measure
-- shall 90 into effect until the cXplrl
tion Of period fixed by the legisla
turc tor filing petitions for a vote Q
the electors on any bill passed: and
such petition shall be filed, thel
not until Il vote is had thereon.
Should the law Or laws to carry tn
provisions Of this amendment int
effect not be passed as hcrelnbefor
required, or if passed objected to b
q qualified electors, they, in numbc
not less than ten per ccntum or lh
u votes cast at the last election 10
n members Of the senate and house {
~ representatives, may, within ninet
days after the adjournment of tn
legislature whose duty it was to pas
such law or laws, sign and tllc Wit
the secretary OF state petition
al petitions to enact Il law or laws IL
u such purpose, and the secretary
~ state shall submit the law as passe
by the senate and house Of reprcsen
ativcs Gf any, and such law OF Law
proposed by the petitioners, to tt
vote Of the qualified electors, at I'll
VS. next regular state election, for
nts choice thereof, and the law or Law
in favor Of which the largest numb
Of votes Shall then be passed shall
md declared adopted.
ANY measure enacted by vote
the qualified electors shall not be r
pcalcd or altered without vote
>@ the electors on the proposed repeal
alteration.
, Nothing in the constitution sll;
be taken or construed to limit t
foregoing powers Of legislation vest
in the qualified electors, nor to
oS' quirc the presentation to or approx
by the governor or any other Office
of any law enacted by Il vote OF t
electors, and all provisions there
in conflict herewith are hereby
'' scindcd and annullcd.
The senate and house Of reprcscl
atiyes. at it's first session after
adoption of this amendment, sil
pass such laws as may be necessary
INA provide penalties for the failure,
glcct or refusal Of any officer or c
GERS within this state to carry {
- the provisions Of this section.
Yhis section shall be deemed in
force and effect without the ncccss
for the passage OF any law by
RA legislative assembly to make it OF
sHM 3 utiyc.
MI Section ? That section 20 Of 4
~ B Gle five Of the constitution shall
amended 50 rs to read as follows:
Section 20: ''Thc enac1ing ella
Of every law shall be as follows:
it enacted by the legislative assem-
of the state Of Montana. except s
laws as may be passed by vote Of
electors, as provided in paragraph
of section | Of this article, and s
tc1y laws shall begin as follows: 'Bt
The enacted by the people Of the stat
# of Montana.
Section 3. The vote upon
amendment shall be counted aud {
vasscd by such persons and in S
manner us is provided by law for
connt iny and f.Hn NaSSiDtr Of tl,n ~