The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-10-01
/. & R.
Amendment TO Constitution
Effective Tuesday
Legislature Ceases To Be
Supreme Law. w...Maklng
Power IN The State

Tuesday the people Of Ohio will be.
gin to take directly unto themselves
share In the making Of laws, says
the Columbus Dispatch. Tuesday, DC.
tober 1, is the day on which the initia-
tive and referendum becomes q part
or the constitution Of Ohio. owing to
the result Of the election Of September
3.
After Tuesday the general assembly
will cease to be the supreme law.mak.
ing power It has been for more than
100 years. The people can now force
the hands of the Legislature and exer-
else practically the same veto a. is
possessed by the governor. Tuesday
thus inaugurates a political revolution
for Ohio.
The I. and r. is the first Of the
amendments to become effective. The
next to go into effect will be home rule
for cities, which will be operative
November Is. The great majority Of
the amendments will not operate un.
til Jan. 1st, and one, that making the
state school commissior,r appointive
by the governor instead of elective,
will not become operative until next
July.
Any law which hereafter is petit
toned for by per cent of the people
must be given serious attention by
the general assembly. For II the as
sembly ignores the petition or passes
law of the same nature that is SO
unsatisfactory that 3 additional per
cent Of the people, or per cent in all,
petition for the same law, 1t must be
submitted to popular vote at the next
election and at that election the people
themselves may pass or reject the law.
Under the precise procedure mapped
out In the I. and r. amendment, any
law petitioned for must have at least
per cent of the total number Of vot.
ers In the state supporting It and one
half Of the counties, or A. must each
contribute at least IN per cent. These
petitions must be filed with the secre.
tary Of state not earlier than ten days
before the convening Of the assembly.
II the assembly passes the law. the
procedure, of course. is ended. Or,
IL the assembly passes similar salts
factory law, the procedure Is ended,
unless opponents of the law file peti'
tions for referendum vote at the
next election. But II the assembly ig-
nores the petition or attempts to pass
a law by another 8 per cent Of their
numbers can force either the original
law or some amended form Of 1t to a
vote of the people.
Under the referendum provision of
the l. and r. the people are given the
right to veto not only any bill the as
sembly may pass, with certain limited
exceptions. but also any section OF a
bill or any item Of an appropriation
bill. The veto is accomplished through
a petition bearing 8 per cent of the
voters, II such a petition is filed with
kin 80 days after the passage or any
law asking that that law be referred
to the people, then the law must &c
to the people for their approval. This
means that no law can become oper
ative for at least 80 days after passage
The laws that are not subject to the
popular veto are so-called emergency
measures. necessary for the immediate
preservation Of the public peace
health or safety, and also laws provid
ing for tax levies, and appropriations
for the current expenses Of the state
government and public institutions
Such laws, however. must have o two
thirds vote of both houses Of the as
sembly before they can be enacted.
-sSs--