The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-07-24

for 4fy one prOpt sed anne ndment Shall
be sign. by net less than the required
number Of petitioners, he shall also
submit the proposed amendment 10 the
cleo tors ut thu Gre. regular election
thereafter. uEiCgs the J s.siature in
JOINT convent or hal GiSapprove Of the
proposed amendment by majority
vote Of the members elected. The leg
islature may. by "a like vote. submit nm
alternative or substitute proposal on
the same subject. The action of the
legislature snail be entered ON the
journal OF each house. with the yeas
and nays taken thereon. But 10
amendment to this section may be pro-
posed In the manner herein prescribed.
If "A majority Of the electors quail
fed to vote for members OF the legis-
lature voting thereon shall raIfy and
approve any such amendment or
amendments, the same shall become a
part of the constitution: Provided,
That for any amendment proposed un-
der this section, the affirmative vote
shall be not less than one-third OF the
highest number of votes cast at the
said election for any office. In case
alternative proposed amendments on
the same subject are submitted at the
same election, the vote shall be for one
OF such alternatives or against such
proposed amendments as a whole. IL
the affirmative vote for one proposed
amendment is the required majority OF
all the votes cast for and against such
proposed amendments, II shall become
part OF the constitution. If the total
affirmative vote for such alternative
proposed amendments IS the required
majority of all the votes for and
against them, but no one proposed
amendment receives such majority,
then the proposed amendment which
receives the largest number of affirm
ut Submitted the
next regular election, and If it then re-
ceives the required majority of all the
votes cast thereon IL shall become
part Of the constitution. The legisla-
ture shall enact appropriate laws 10
carry out the provisions OF thls section
Sec g. All proposed amendments TO
the constitution submitted 10 the cleo
tors shall be published in full, with any
existing provisions of the constitution
which would be altered or abrogated
thereby, and a copy thereof shall be
posted at each registration and election
place. Proposed amendments shall also
be printed in full on a ballot or ballots
separate from the ballot containing the
names of nominees for public office.
These sections represent a compromise be-
tween those who desired no change in the
manner of amending the constitution pro-
vded by Sec. 1, Art Xxx Of the existing con-
stitution (Sec. l of this artcle), and thee
VINO favored the initiative method Of amend
ment by the people without the proposed
amendment being first submitted TO the leg
islature. The resulting compromise, embodied
In the foregoing sections, provides new
method OF amending the constitution. When-
ever the required number of electors petit
ton for an amendment to the constitution
IL becomes the duty Of the secretary OF state,
upon filing Of such petition i'm his office, TO
certify the same TO the legislature at the
opening Of the next regular session. The
secretary Of state must, also, submit the
amendment to the electors at the first regu-
L. 10 a1a
in Joint session shall disapprovo of the pro-
posed amendment by majority vote Of the
members elected 10 each house. method
is thus provided whereby the language, scope
and purpose Of the proposed amendment will
be scrutnized and discussed by a deliber-
alive body and its terms made to harmon
lie with other provisions i'm the constitu-
ton. The convention realized the far-reach-
ing effect that each amendment to the con-
stitution may have beyond the immediate
purpose intended by il, and IL was deemed
ing the fundamental law Of the state that
the very greatest care should be required
in both the form and substance Of amend
ments to 1t. Such care is secured by requir-
ing the amendments proposed to pass the
scrutiny of the legislature. In this manner
the purpose and terms, as well as the legal
effect, OF such amendments will become the
subject OF popular discussion; In other words,
the utmost publicity is secured.
II is generally conceded that the effect OF
this provision will be the submission to q
vote OF the electors of practically all amend
ments petitioned for. The legislature may
change the phraseology and harmonic the
provisions of the amendment with those por-
tions OF the constitution not intended to be
affected by it, before submitting il TO the
electors. No one doubts the response of the
legislature, in normal times TO a petition
containing twenty per cent Of the electors
| specified. 1t is foreseen that in seasons OF
great stress disturbance and excitement,
| petition might be presented designed TO serve
a temporary unjust purpose. I'm such an
| event the time required under this section
| for consideration of such petition by the leg
! slature will AFFORD opportunity for normal
conditions to return, and IL, after due de-
| liberation by the legislature, majority Of
| that body deem it unwise or improper 10
submit the amendment to the electors, the
| power TO do so is conferred. The considera-
| tion potent with the convention that
public opinion is subject to sudden huctua-
| tons; that the cherished policies of one year
! may be discarded the next upon fuller infor
nation and maturer thought. Living as we
are under "a government Of laws and not
| Of men" the wisdom of preserving the sta
! bility Of our fundamental laws was most
persuasive with the convention.
Sec. 4. At the general election to be
! held in the year nineteen hundred
| twenty-six, in each sixteenth year
| thereafter and at such other times as
may be provided by law, the questio
Of general revision Of the constitu-
! ton shall be submitted TO the electors
! qualified TO vote for members of the
| legislature. In case majority Of such
| electors voting at such election shall
decide in favor of convention for
such purpose, at the next biennial
spring election the electors Of each sem
atorial district OF the state as then or
! ganiZed shall elect three delegates
The delegates so elected shall convene
at the state capitol on the first Tues
| day in September next succeeding such
| election, and shall continue their ses-
sions until the business of the conven-
ton shall be completed. A majority Of
the delegates elected shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business.
The convention shall choose its own
officers, determine the rules of its pro-
ceedings and judge Of the qualifica-
tons, elections and returns Of it's menu
bers. In case of a vacancy by death
resignation or otherwise of any dele
gate, such a vacancy shall be filed by
appointment by the governor OF a
qualified resident of the same district
! This convention shall have power TO
appoint such officers, employees and az
sistants as II may deem necessary and
TO fix their compensation, and to pro-
vide for the printing and distribution
OF it's documents, journals and pro-
| Ill.