The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-09-23
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. s
Proposed amendment to Constitution to
permit counties TO adopt CLONE Rule"
charters

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. S
permit counties to adopt "HOme Rule"
charters.
Be It RESOLVED, BY the Senate and House
ton in legislative session assembled:
That. at the general election to be held in
this state on the Tuesday next succeeding
the first Monday in November. 1948, there
shall be submitted to the qualified voters of
the state for their approval and ratification,
or rejection, an amendment to Section Of
Article XI Of the Constitution Of the State
of Washington to read as follows:
Section a. County Government and Town
ship Organization. The legislature shall es-
tablish system of county government.
which shall be uniform throughout the state
except as hereinafter provided, and by gen.
eral laws shall provide for township organ
izaticn, under which any county may organ-
lie whenever majority OF the qualified
electors Of such county voting at a general
election shall so determine: and whenever
the assessment and collection of the revenue
shall ba made. and the business of such
county and the local affairs of the several
Townships therein, shall be managed and
transacted in the manner prescribed by
such general law.
Any county may frame a "Home Rule"
charter for its own government subject to
the constitution and laws o. this state. and
ICr SCSn purpose Ine leSlSi2LlVe authority
of such county may cause an election to be
had, at which election there shall be chosen
by the qualified voters Of said county not
less than fifteen (15) nor more than twenty
five t25t freehofders thereof, as determined
by the legislative authority, who shall have
been residents of said county for a period Of
at least five (5) years preceding their cleo
ton and who are themselves qualified cleo
tors. whose duty it shall be to convene
within thirty (30) days after their election
and prepare and propose charter for such
.mittsd to the qualified electors of said
county, and IL majority of such qualified
electors voting thereon ratify the same, 1t
shall become the charter Of said county and
shall become the organic law thereof, and
supersede any existing charter. including
amendments thereto. or any existing form
of county government, and all special laws
inconsistent with such charter; Said Pro
posed charter shall be published in two (2)
legal newspapers published in said county,
at least once week for four az con-
secutive weeks prior to the day Of submit
ting the same to the electors for their ap-
prevail as above provided. All elections in
this section authorized shall only be had
upon notice, which notice shall specify the
object of calling such election and shall be
given for at least ten (10) days before the
said county. Said elections may be general
or special elections and except as herein
provided, shall be governed by the law regu.
lating and controlling general or special
elections in said county. Such charter may
he amended by proposals therefor submitted
bv the legislative authority of said county
fo the electors thereof at any general cleo
fion nftar notice OF such submission pub
lished a. above specified. and ratified by