The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-10-24

Article Is of Amendment. The legislative
power Of this state shall be vested in a leg
sIature consisting of senate and a house Of
| representatives. The people, however, reserve
| the power, first, to propose measures and to
enact or reject the same at the polls; second.
| to approve or reject at the polls any measure
or any item, second, part or parts of any
| measure enacted by the legislature.
., The, first power reserved is the initiative.
Ten thousand electors at large may propose
any measure by. initiative petition. Every
such petition shall contain the full text Of
the measure and shall be filed with the sec.
rotary of state not less than ninety days before
the election at which it is to be voted upon.
The SECOND power reserved is the refer.
endun. Seven thousand electors at large may.
by referendum petition suspend the operation
cept an emergency measure. But the filing
of referendum petition agoinst one more
items, sections or parts of any measure, shall
not prevent, the remainder from going into
secretary of state not later than ninety days
after the adjournment of the session of the
| legislature at which such measure was enacted
Each measure IRE, initiated lit BY or referred
title, which shall be placed upon the ballot by
| the secretary of state and shall be voted upon
at any statewide election designated in the pc
tit1on. or at special election called by the
governor. The result of the vote upon any
measure shall be canvassed and declared by the
board of canvassers.
Any measure. except all emergency measure,
submitted to the electors of the state shall be-
come law when approved by majority of
go into effect on the 3Oth day after the cleo
ton: unless otherwise specified in the measure.
If referendum petition is filed against an
law until voted upon by the electors And if
it is then rejected by majority of the votes
cast thereon. it shall be thereby repealed Any
such measure shall be submitted to the electors
,% II
ernor, or if the referendum petition filed
against it shall be signed by thirty thousand
electors at large. Such special election shall
be called by the governor, and shall be held
not less than one hundred more than one
hundred thirty days after the adjournment of
the session of the Legislature.
The secretary. of state shall pass upon each
petition. and if he finds it insufficient, he
shall notify. the "Commtee for the Petition
ers" and allow twenty days for correction or
amendmen All decisions of the secretary of
state in regard to any such petition shall be
subject to review by the supreme court. But
if the suffciency of such petition is being re.
viewed at the time the ballot is being prepared
the secretary of state shall place the measure
on the ballot and all subsequent decision shall
invalidate such measure if it is at such election
approved by majority of the votes cast there
on. If proceedings are brought against any
shall be upon the party attacking it.
No law shall be enacted limiting IT, ~ u
Der of copies of petition which m"r be r.
cuated. Such copies shall become par; of The
original petition when filed attached there
to. Nor shall any law be enacted prohibiting
any person from giving receiving compen-
sation for circulating the petitions, nor in any
manner interfering with the freedom in
curing signatures to Detitions.
Each netiion. shall have printed thereon a
ballot title, which shall fairly represent the
subject matter of the measure, and the names
of at least five electors who shall constitute
f1a tton fn. fGn ,,1,,>
shall represent andsact for the petitioners.
All measures submitted to the electors shall
be published by the state follows: "The
secretary of state shall cause to be printed and
containing a copy of each measure together
with its ballot title, to be submitted at any
election. Any citizen, or the officers of any
organization, may submit to the secretary of
ments concerning any measure therein, upon
first subscribing their names and addresses
thereto and paying the fee therefor, which.
until otherwise fixed by the legislature, shall
The enacting clause of all measures initiated
by the electors: shall be "Be it enacted by
the people of the State of North Dakota" -
submitting measures to the electors. the secre.
tarv of state and all other officials shall be
guided by the election laws until additional
legislation shall be provided.
If conflicting measures initiated by or re-
ferred to the electors shall be approved by
majority Of the votes cast thereon, the one re-
ceiving the highest number of affirmative votes
shall become the law
The word "measure'' as used herein, shall
include any law or amendment thereto, resolu-
ton, legislative proposal or enactment of any
character.
The veto power of the governor shall not
extend to the measures initiated by or referred
to the electors. No measure enacted or APP
proved by vote of the electors shall be re-
peaed or amended by the legislature, except
upon yea and nay vote upon roll call of two
thirds of all the members elected to each house.
This section shall be self executing and all
of its provisions shall be treated mandatory.
Laws may be enacted to facilitate its operation,
but no laws shall be enacted to hamper, restrict
or impair the exercise of the rights herein re-
served to the people.