The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-10-03
Notice of Election, Constitutional
Amendment.
House Bill No. $50.

An Act entitled IAN Act for the submitting to
the qualified electors of tne state of Montana, an
Amendment to Article y of the Constitution Of
the state of Montana. relating to the Legislative
Department and providing for Direct Legislation
and Reference of Laws.
Be il enacted by the Lerl .~lltiye Assembly of
section l There shall be submitted to the DUAL.
flied electors of the state of Montana, at the next
general election. the following amendment to
section /. Article \, OF t.e tou>tiiut.r. Of tie
state of Montana:
That Section l, Article Y, of the Constitution
be. and the same is hereby amended so - to read
a. follows:
Section |. The Legislative authority of the
state shall be vested in a Legislative Assembly.
consisting OF II Senate and House of Representa-
tives: but the people reserve to themselves power
to propose laws, and to enact or reject the same at
the polls, except as to laws relating to the appro-
p%riations of money, and except as to laws for the
submission of constitutional amendments, and
except Is to local or special laws, as enumerated
IN Article Y, Section NJ, 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
semnly, except as to laws necessary for the imme-
diate preservation of the pubic peace, health or
safety, and except ~ to laws relating to the an
preparations of money, and except as to laws for
the submission of constitutional amendments.
ated in Article v, Section ", of this Constitution.
The first power reserved by the people is the Ini.
~tiative, and eight per cent. of the legal voters of
the state shall be required to propose any meas
-, - tuNt II VI IL
whole. number of the counties Of the state must
each furnish as signers of said petition eight per
cent OK the legal voters in such county, and every
such petition shall include the full text of the
measure. proposed. Initiative petitions shall be
filed with the Secretary Of State not less tn an four
months before the election at which they are to be
voted upon.
The second power is the Referendum, and II
may be ordered either by petition signed by five
per cent. OF The legal voters of the state; provided
that two-ffths of the whole number Of counties in
the state must each furnish as siyners Of said pc.
tltlon tve per cent. of the legal voters in such
county. or. by the Legislative Assembly as other
Referendum petitions shall be filed with the
Secretary Of state not later than six months after
the ma! adjournment Of the sessions of the Legis.
iat!ve Assembly which passed the Bill on which
referendum Is demanded. The veto power of the
Governor shall not extend to measures referred to
the people by the Legislative Assembly or by lni
tiat!ve referendum petitions.
All elections on measures referred to the people
OF the state shall he had at the biennial regular
general election, except when the Legislative As
seinbly, by . majority vote, shall order a special
election ANY measure referred to the people
shall still he in full force and effect unless such
petition be signed by fifteen per cent. of the legal
voters OF = majority of the whole number of the
counties of the state, in which case the law shall
be imperative until such time as it shall he passed
upon at an election, and the result has been de
termined and declared as provided by law. The
whole number Of votes cast for Governor at the
regular election last preceding the filing Of any
petition for the Initiative or Referendum, shall
'Ns'A' VA "htNu ttIV HUItDt VI lUt Dt-
t!tions and orders for the Initiative and for the
Referendum shall he filed with the Sec retary of
state: and in submitting the same to the people,
ne, ana Oil other officers, shall be guided by the
General Laws and the Act submitting this amend
ment, until legislation shall he especially pro
>ided therefor, The e~nacting clause Of every law
originated by the Initiative shall be as follows:
"ie it enacted by the People of Montana:'
rms section shall not he construed to deprive
any member of the Legislative Assembly of the
right to introduce any measure.
section y. That separate official hnllot> hA ]l~ad
ut the general election to be held in November.
i!*.h, and shall have printed thereon the words
"For the Amendment to the Constitution pro
vidih@ for Direct Legislation and Reference of
Laws. and the words, against the Amendment
to the Constitution providing for Direct Lrrisla.
non ANA Reference OF Laws"
II shan he the duty OF the Legislative Assembly
to enact Legislation suitable for carrying this
amendment into afrt.
Section 4. All Acts or parts of Acts in conflict
with this .Ac are hereby repealed.
Srcteon !. This Act shall take effect and be in
tul! force from and after its passage and approval
ny the Governor.
Approved March >, i@o5,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Stat" ct Montana. -.
l.. \. y. Nodrr, Secr,ta Y of state of the State
OF Montana, do hereby certify that the above is "A
true ana correct copy of
AN Vet Entitled. AN Act for the submitting
10 the qualified clcCtur. of the State of Montana.
IN amendment to Attic e Y. of tn" Constitution
of til" state of Montana. rplatin. to the L.egisla-
Nv" Department, and providing for Direct L.rgis-
lation and reference of Laws"
Enacted by the Ninth Legislative Assembly of
the State of Montana. ami approved ON tn. second
day Of March. \. d.. 1905.
In Testimony Whereof, | have herrunto set my
Done at the City of Helena, the Capital of said
state. TINS fourteenth day of July, \. ID, 1906.
lSeal.) \. n IuDER.
Secretary of State.