Case Name: CONVENTION CENTER REFERENDUM COMMITTEE, et al., Appellants, v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS, et al., Appellees
Court: District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: District of Columbia
Decision Date: 1981-10-08
Citations: 441 A.2d 889
Docket Number: Nos. 79-857, 79-858 and 79-885
Parties: CONVENTION CENTER REFERENDUM COMMITTEE, et al., Appellants, v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS, et al., Appellees.
Judges: Before NEWMAN, Chief Judge, and KELLY, KERN, NEBEKER, HARRIS, MACK, FERREN, and PRYOR, Associate Judges, and GALLAGHER, Associate Judge, Retired.
Reporter: West's Atlantic Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 441
Pages: 889–936

Head Matter:
CONVENTION CENTER REFERENDUM COMMITTEE, et al., Appellants, v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND ETHICS, et al., Appellees.
Nos. 79-857, 79-858 and 79-885.
District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Argued En Banc Nov. 7, 1980.
Decided Oct. 8, 1981.
William B. Schultz, Washington, D.C., with whom Diane B. Cohn and Alan B. Morrison, Washington, D.C., were on the brief, for appellants.
William Lewis, Gen. Counsel, Washington, D.C., with whom Cecily Collier, Acting Gen. Counsel at the time the briefs were filed, Washington, D.C., was on the briefs, for appellee Dist. of Columbia Bd. of Elections and Ethics.
James C. McKay, Jr., Asst. Corp. Counsel, Washington, D.C., with whom Judith W. Rogers, Corp. Counsel, Richard A. Barton, Deputy Corp. Counsel at the time the briefs were filed, and David P. Sutton, Acting Deputy Corp. Counsel, Washington, D.C., were on the briefs, for appellee Dist. of Columbia.
James H. Heller, Washington, D.C., with whom Arthur B. Spitzer, Washington, D.C., was on the brief, for amicus curiae Hilda Mason.
Stephen Truitt, Washington, D.C., with whom Deborah A. Calloway, Washington, D.C., was on the brief, for amicus curiae Betty Ann Kane.
Jerry A. Moore, III, Washington, D.C., with whom J. Kirkwood White, Washington, D.C., was on the brief, for amicus curiae Greater Washington Bd. of Trade, et al.
Before NEWMAN, Chief Judge, and KELLY, KERN, NEBEKER, HARRIS, MACK, FERREN, and PRYOR, Associate Judges, and GALLAGHER, Associate Judge, Retired.
Judge GALLAGHER was an Associate Judge of the court at the time of argument. His status changed to Associate Judge, Retired, on February 27, 1981.

Opinion:
Outline op the Plurality Opinion
Page
I. Summary op Decision___892
II. History of the Cases_893
Page
III. The CCRC Initiative Proposes a "Law" - — . 896
A. The Scope of the Initiative Power-896
B. The Scope of the CCRC Initiative-898
1. The Significance of the Initiative Bill Itself-898
2. The CCRC Initiative-899
3. Postcirculation Revisions-900
C. The Powers of the Council-902
1. Home Rule Powers-903
2. The Budgetary Exception-904
a. The Budgetary Process-904
b. Deauthorization and Defunding-905
D. A Legislative Act_ 907
IV. The CCRC Initiative Proposes a "Law Appropriating Funds" 911
A. "Laws Appropriating Funds"-911
B. The "Dixon Amendment"-914
C. The Invalidity of the CCRC Initiative-915
V.Conclusion__ 916
VI.POSTSCRIPT: RESPONSE TO DISSENT_ 916
Appendix A: Initiative Measure No. 1... 919
Appendix B: Initiative Measure No. 2-920
Appencix C: Initiative Measure No. 3---920