The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-09-12
of Election, Constitutional
Amendment.
House Bill No. $50.

An Act entitled "An Act for the submitting to
the qualified electors. of the state of "A Montana, an
the state Of Montana, relating to the Legislative
Department and providing for Direct Legislation
and Reference Of Laws.
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly Of
the state Of Montana:
Section I. There shall be submitted to the aual.
" renee sie, LECTION or 'n th sta fal =, Monta .m,sn az the next It
Section !. Article ', of the Constitution of the
State of Montana:
be. and the same Is hereby amended so as to read
As follows:
Section !. The Legislative authority of tho
state shall be vested in a Legislative Assembly.
consisting of Il Senate and House of Representa-
tives: but the people reserve to themselves power
to propose laws, and to enact or reject the same af
the polls, except IS to laws relating to the apprO-
%priations of money, and except as to laws for the
submission of constitutional amendments, and
except rs to local or special laws, as enumerated
in Article y, Section ri, of this Constitution, in
dependent Of the Legislative Assembly: and also
Reserve power, at their own option, to approve or
reject AT the polls, any Act Of the Legislative As
.rmbly, except Is TO laws necessary for the imme-
liate preservation of the public peace, health or
-at-ty, and except rs to laws relating to the ap-
the Submission of CONSTITUTIONAL ameMdmsnts,
and except as to local or special laws, as enumer-
The first power reserved by the people i. the mi
tia.ive, and eight per cent. of the legal voters of
the state shall be req uired to propose any meas
tre by petition; PROVIDED, that two-titths of tho
whole number of the counties, of the state must
ttti FURNISH ~ HlH!eF> OF Sllu petition eiInC per
cent. of the lrya! voter. in such county, and every
sucl, petition shall include the full text of the
measure proposed. Initiative petitions shall no
Iil-t with the secretary of State not less tn IN four
months before the election At which they are to DO
voted upon.
The second power is the Referendum. and it
may b" ordered either by petition signed by five
per cent. of the legal voters of the state; provided
thnt tNo-lifth- of the whole number of counties in
the state must each furnish a. si.,ers of said Pc
tition tive per cent: of the legal voters in such
county, or. by the Legislative Assembly as other
Bills are enacted.
Referendum petitions sital, be filed with the
Secretary of state not later than six months after
the linal adjournment of the sessions of ths Legis-
lative Assembly which passed the Bill on which
Governor shall not extend to measures referred to
the people by the Legislative Assembly or by Ini-
tiatitn Referendum petitions,
All elections on measures, referred to the people
of the state shall be had at the biennial regular
general election, except when the Legislative Az
%-A,nbly, by \ majority vote, shall order Il special
election Any measure referred to the people
shall still b- in full force and effect unless such
petition be- signed by fifteen per cent. of the legal
voters of a majority of the whole number OF the
| counties of the state, in which case the law shall
he imperative until such time As it shall he passed
upon a, an election, and the result has been do
t"rminrd and declared AS provided by law. Tho
\ whole number of vote. cast for Governor at the
regular election last preceding the ding of any
petition for tn" Initiative or Referendum, shall
be- the basis on which the NUMBER of the legs u pc
tition> and orders for the Initiative and for tho
Referendum shall BIZ filed with tina SEQ retary of
Sta'e: and in submitting the same to the people,
he, and all other officers, shall be guided by the
General Laws and the Act submitting this amend
ment, until legislation shall he especially pro
yid"d therefor, The enactiny clause of every law
originated BY the Initiative shall BE- Is follows,
BE it enacted by the People of Montana"
This section shall not be construed to deprive
any member Of the Legislative Assembly Of tho
right to in'rpinc" any measure.
Section :. That separate Official ballots he used
10 the general election to be heIa in November.
1906, and >Lall have printed thereon the words:
"For III" Amendment to the Con stitutiou pro-
viiing for Direct Legislation and Reference of
Laws. and ia" words, against the Amendment
to tn" Constitution providing for pirec. Legisla-
ton and Reference. of Laws"
1t shall be the duty of the legislative Assembly
- enact Legislation suitable for carrying this
amendment INTO efet.
section 3 All Acts or part. % Act> in conflict
with this Act are hereby repealed.
SettDon !. This Act shall take effect and be in
tull force from ald after it, passage ard app roval
by the Governor.
Approved March :, 1905.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
State of Montana, -.
LA. n. ioder, Secretary Of state of tie state
Of Montana, do hereby certify that the a,oye is q
true and correct copy of
An Act Entitled. San Act for the submitting
to the qualified electors of the State Of Montana,
al amendment to Article ', Of the Constitution
tive Department, and providing for Direct Legis-
latlol and Reference of Laws
Enacted by the Ninth Legislative Assembly of
the State of Montana, and approved on the second
day of March, A. D.. 1905.
In Testimony Whereof, have hereUuto set my
hand and AFFIXED the Great Seal Of said state,
Done at the City of Helena. the Capital Of said
>tate, this fourteenth day Of July. 4 l. 1906.
seal \. \. YoDER,
Secretary of State.