Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1907-03-14

passed by the Legislature, and gives
the voters chance to originate meas
ures OF their own. While the passage
OF the initiative and referendum bill
puts the question OF resubmission to
the front, this question is only minor
matter as compared with the great
principle OF direct legislation by the
people on all matters, for which the
law provides.
Concurrent Resolution
For an amendment to the Constitution
providing for the Referendum and
Initiative.
BE 1t Resolved by the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes, the Senate cOncurring:
That the following amendment to
the constitution, providing for the In
Itiative and Referendum, shall be re-
ferred to the next legislative assem-
bly,, and, with the approval OF said leg
islatiye assembly. be submitted to the
qualified electors for adoption or re-
lection.
Section % OF Article II. Of the Con
stitution OF the state OF North Dakota
shall be and hereby is amended TO
read az follows:
Section %. The legislative authority
OF the state OF North Dakota shall be
vested in legislative assembly con-
sisting Of senate and house Of repre-
sentatives; but the people reserve to
themselves power to propose laws and
to enact or rejuect the same at the
polls independent OF the legislative as
sembiy, and also reserve power, at
their own option, to approve or reject
at the polls any act. item, section
or part OF any act or measure passed
by the legislative assembly.
The first power reserved by the PEG
pie Is the initiative, and not more than
eight per cent Of the legal voters shall
be required to propose any measure
by initiative petition, and every such
petition shall include the full text OF
the measure 80 proposed, but the same
constitutional amendment shall not be
proposed oftener than once in ten
years Initiative petitions shall be
filed with the secretary OF state not
less than thirty days before any regu
lar session of the legislative assembly
He shall transmit the same to the
legislative assembly as soon as it con-
venes. Such initiative measures shall
take precedence over all measures in
the legislative assembly except appro-
priation bills, and shall be either en-
acted or rejected without change or
amendment by the legislative assem-
bly, within forty days. II any such in
itiative measure shall be enacted by
the legislative assembly 1t shall be
subject to referendum petition, or Il
may be referred by the legislative as
sembly to the people for approval or
rejection. II 1t is rejected or no action
is taken upon 1t by the legislative as
eembly within said forty days, the sec
rotary of state shall submit 1t to the
people for approval or rejection at the
next ensuing regular general election
The legislative assembly may rejcc,
any measure SO proposed by Initiative
petition and propose different ono
to accomplish the same purpose, and
In any such event both measures shall
he submitted by the secretary of state
TO the people for approval or rejection
at the next ensuing regular election.
II conflicting measures submitted to
the people at the next ensuing election
shall be approved by majority OF the
votes severally cast for and against
the same, the one receiving the high.
est number OF affirmative votes shall
thereby become valid and the other
shall thereby be rejected.
The second power is the referen-
dum. and 1t may be ordered (except as
TO laws necessary for the immediate
preservation Of the public peace.
health or safety, as to any measure or
any parts, items or sections of any
measure passed by the legislative as
sembly, either by petition signed by
hve per cent OF the legal voters. or
by the legislative assembly II a ma.
lority OF the members elect vote there.
Tor When 1t is necessary for the i'm
mediate preservation OF the public
peace. health or safety that law shall
become effective without delay. such
necessity and the facts creating the
same shall be stated in one SECTION al
the bill. and II upon an aye-and-no vote
IN each house two-thirds of all Tho
members elected to each house shall
vote on q separate roll call in favor o
the said law going into instant opera
tion for the immediate preservation q
the public peace, health or safet,
such law shall become operative npo
approval by the governor.
The filing Of referendum petitio
against one or more items, section
or parts Of an act shall not delay u
remainder Of that act from becomi,
operative. Referendum petition
against measures passed by the leg
lative assembly shall be filed with Il
secretary of state not more than nil
ty daye after the final adjournment
the session ri the legislative assem-,
which passed the measure on viii
the referendum is demanded r