The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-05-14
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
Proposal 2.

- iHc 'H'lidtlNe lS Ine power re-
served to the people to originate laws
or constitutional amendments by pc
tition and enact them by popular vote
2. The direct initiative is the DOW
er reserved to the people to originate
laws or constitutional amendments
by petition and enact them by popu.
lar vote, without reference to the
general assembly.
3. The indirect Initiative Is the
lower reserved to the people to orig.
bate laws or constitutional amend.
nents and enact them by popular
7ote after they have been referred for
consideration to the general assembly.
4. The referendum is the power re-
served by the people to veto or sus-
tain by popular vote a law passed by
the general assembly
The initiative and referendum
amendment submitted by the present
constitutional convention provides:
|. The direct initiative for consti-
tutionai amendments.
2. The indirect initiative for laws
and institutional amendments.
3. The referendum on laws and
parts of laws.
Section !. Article II. of the present
constitution vests the lawmaking
power of the state, without reserva.
tion, in the general assembly, which
shall consist of senate and house
OF representatives. This provision
is retained in the proposal adopted by
the constitutional convention, but
there are added important reserva-
tions of power to the people. They
are authorized to propose laws and
amendments to the constitution and
TO adopt or reject the same at the
oils; also at their own option to
o 0jopt or reject any law or part of
law passed by the general assembly.
Direct lnitiatlve.--The first of these
powers reserved by the people Is
called the initiative. The direct ini-
amendments only. Twelve per centum
of the electors are required on petit
tion filed with the secretary of state
at least 80 days before a general cleo
tion before amendment may be sub
mitted to vote by the people.
Indirect Initiative.-This is author
lied for constitutional amendments
and laws. Eight per centum of the
electors are required on petitions pro-
posing a constitutional amendment,
and 6 per centum OF. petitions pro-
posing a law. The petitions are
transmitted by the secretary of state
to the general assembly as soon as
it convenes.
The proposed law or proposed
| amendment to the constitution shall
be either approved or rejected with
out change or amendment by the
general assembly within four months
from the time it is received by the
general assembly. If law, pro-
posed by petition, is passed by the
general assembly, it will go into ef-
feet as any other law by it enacted.
| II an amendment to the constitution,
proposed by petition, is approved by
the general assembly, it must be sub
mitted to the electors. eff any law
or constitutional amendment so petit
! toned for be rejected, or If no action
he taken thereon by the general as
semhly within four months, the secre-
| tary % state shall submit the same
to the electors for approval or rejec-
| tion at the next regular general cleo
| ton"
Competing Measures Under Indirect
| Initiative.-The general assembly may
decline to pass any such proposed law
or constitutional amendment and
adopt different competing one on
the same subject, and in such event
both the proposed and competing law
or both the proposed and competing
constitutional amendment shall be
submitted by the secretary of state
| to the electors for approval or rejec-
tion al the next regular or general
election. A proposed law or amend
ment II approved by a majority of
the electors voting thereon. shall take
effect 20 days after its approval.
| II conflicting laws or constitutional
amendments are adopted at the same
election the law or amendment re-
ceiving the highest number OF votes
shall prevail
No law proposed by initiative petit
ton shall be subject to the veto power
Of the governor.
| Referendum.-The second power re-
served to the people is designated the
referendum. No laws passed by the
legislature, except emergency meas
Tres. shall go into effect until 80 days
| utter their enactment. If within that
line a petition, signed by per cent
um of the electors Of the state, asking
that "any such law, section of such
law, or any item appropriating money
IN such law" be submitted to the
electors of the state for their approval
or rejection. the secretary of state
shall. AT the next general election, sub
nit such law or part thereof. And no
such law or part there shall go into
effect unless approved by majority
of those voting thereon. In othe-
words, if a majority of the electors
voting oppose the measure il is ye-