Case Name: ALASKANS FOR A COMMON LANGUAGE, INC., Appellant, v. Moses KRITZ, et al., Appellees; Alaskans for a Common Language, Inc., Appellant, v. Henry Alakayak, et al., Appellees
Court: Alaska Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Alaska
Decision Date: 2007-11-02
Citations: 170 P.3d 183
Docket Number: No. S-10590
Parties: ALASKANS FOR A COMMON LANGUAGE, INC., Appellant, v. Moses KRITZ, et al., Appellees. Alaskans for a Common Language, Inc., Appellant, v. Henry Alakayak, et al., Appellees.
Judges: Before: BRYNER, Chief Justice, MATTHEWS, EASTAUGH, FABE, and CARPENETI, Justices.
Reporter: Pacific Reporter 3d
Volume: 170
Pages: 183–226

Head Matter:
ALASKANS FOR A COMMON LANGUAGE, INC., Appellant, v. Moses KRITZ, et al., Appellees. Alaskans for a Common Language, Inc., Appellant, v. Henry Alakayak, et al., Appellees.
No. S-10590.
Supreme Court of Alaska.
Nov. 2, 2007.
Kevin D. Callahan and Douglas J. Ser-dahely, Patton Boggs LP, Anchorage, for Appellant Alaskans for a Common Language, Inc.
Douglas Pope, Pope & Katcher, Anchorage, for Kritz Appellees.
Eric D. Johnson, Association of Village Council Presidents, Bethel; Heather Kendall-Miller, Native American Rights Fund, Anchorage; and William E. Caldwell, Alaska Civil Liberties Union, Fairbanks, for Alaka-yak Appellees.
Jan Hart DeYoung, Assistant Attorney General, Anchorage, and Gregg D. Renkes, Attorney General, Juneau, for Appellee State of Alaska.
Peter M. Tiersma, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California and Nikole Nelson, Anchorage, for amicus curiae Linguistic Society of America.
Before: BRYNER, Chief Justice, MATTHEWS, EASTAUGH, FABE, and CARPENETI, Justices.

Opinion:
OPINION -
CARPENETI, Justice.
I. INTRODUCTION
Alaskans for a Common Language, Inc. appeals from a decision of the superior court that the Official English Initiative, AS 44.12.300-.390, violates speech rights protected by the federal and Alaska Constitutions. We hold that a portion of the statute's principal provision violates constitutionally protected speech. We also hold, however, that this unconstitutional portion of the statute may be severed from the remainder of the principal provision and that the remainder, if given a narrowing construction, is constitutional. We therefore affirm in part, and reverse in part, the judgment of the superior court.
II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
In 1998 Alaskans for a Common Language, Ine. (ACL), an Alaskan non-profit corporation, sponsored a ballot initiative to adopt English as the state's official language and to require its sole use in "all government functions and actions." The Official English Initiative (OEI or the initiative), entitled "Requiring Government to Use English," was described on the ballot as follows:
This bill requires the state to use English in all government functions and actions. State records must be in English,. "The state" means the legislature, all state agencies, local governments, school districts, public corporations and the university. Those entities may use non-English languages for international trade, emergencies, teaching languages, court suits, criminal inquiries, for elected officials to talk to constituents or to comply with federal law. Costs of non-English records must be identified. Persons who speak only English may not be denied state jobs or services. The bill does not affect private see-tor use of non-English languages.
The OEI was approved by the voters on November 3, 1998 and was subsequently codified at AS 44.12.300-.390 to become effective March 3, 1999. Accordingly, this case requires us to interpret a statute enacted pursuant to the people's power of the initiative.
Following passage of the initiative, two sets of plaintiffs filed suit against the state to block its implementation. The Kritz plaintiffs consisted of Moses Kritz, Stanley Active, and Frank Logusak, all of whom are lifelong residents of Togiak. Kritz and Active are both public officials, the former proficient in English and Yupik and the latter only in Yupik. Logusak is a citizen who is fluent in both languages. The Alakayak plaintiffs are a group of Alaska residents from various cities and native villages, many of whom are either bilingual in English and Yupik, Inu piaq,. or Spanish, or proficient only in their native languages and unable to communicate in English. The lead plaintiff, Henry Alaka-yak, is a member of the city council for the City of Manokotak who has limited proficiency in English and performs his job exelusively in Yupik. Both sets of plaintiffs alleged that implementation of the OEI would adversely affect numerous Alaskans who are themselves bi- or multi-lingual government officials or employees, or citizens who rely on such individuals to communicate with or participate in local and state government.
The cases were consolidated and, in March 1999, Superior Court Judge Fred Torrisi granted the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, enjoining implementation of the initiative pending further order of the superior court or of this court. ACL then sought to intervene as a defendants The superior court denied ACL's motion, explaining that its interests would be adequately represented by the state and that it could advance its positions as an amicus curiae. Noting that some might question whether the state was committed to defending the constitutionality of the initiative in light of unfavorable sentiments expressed by the attorney general's office and then-Governor Tony Knowles, we ordered the superior court to permit ACL to intervene in the lawsuit.
All parties then moved for summary judgment, agreeing that the matter could be resolved without an evidentiary hearing. In March 2002 Judge Torrisi granted the plaintiffs' motions for summary judgment, finding that the OEI violated the free speech clause of the Alaska Constitution because "it is impossible to restrict the initiative's reach to the speech of government as an employer, and because even viewed in this way it is not justified by a legitimate interest." The court further stated that "[the wide reach of the initiative chills the exercise of protected speech, and there is no construction that can cure this problem."
The superior court rejected the argument that the initiative was purely symbolic and that it did not prevent anyone from speaking languages other than English, concluding that ACL failed to demonstrate how the initiative could be reasonably construed to permit government employees to routinely speak a language other than English, except in limited cireumstances. Relying upon the Ninth Circuit's statement that in any language is still speech and the decision to speak in another language is a decision involving speech alone," the court concluded that the OEI is a restriction on speech that violates the free speech rights of public officials and employees.
With respect to elected officials, the superior court found that the OBI limits their ability to "freely speak" and thus violates article I, section 5 of the Alaska Constitution. As for non-elected employees and officials, the court explained that any restriction on their free speech rights would have to be Justified by a "strong [sltate interest." While the court recognized the validity of the OEI's goals of "promoting, preserving and strengthening" the use of English as Alaska's common language and of reducing the costs of conducting government business in multiple languages, the court found these interests insufficient to justify the "blanket prohibition on public employees speaking languages other than English."
Concluding that the initiative failed to meet the stringent standard required under Alaska law to justify an infringement upon the speech rights of Alaska citizens, the superior court declined to make any findings regarding whether the OEI was content-based or to address the plaintiffs' equal protection arguments. However, the court noted that an overbreadth analysis would lead to the same conclusion because the initiative swept in too much constitutionally-protected speech to be construed narrowly. Finally, the court considered whether the initiative could be saved by severing the unconstitutional provisions and concluded that, while a severed construction "might capture the 'spirit of the measure,' " it was not "evident that voters would prefer the measure as altered." Accordingly, the court declared the Official English Initiative void as violative of article I, section 5 of the Alaska Constitution.
ACL appealed. Following oral argument, we asked the parties to submit supplemental briefing on the issue of severability. The state had declined to participate in the original appeal but, at our request, submitted briefing on the issue of severability.
III STANDARD OF REVIEW
We apply our independent judgment to questions of constitutional law and review de novo the construction of the Alaska and federal Constitutions. We also apply our independent judgment to questions of statutory interpretation and "adopt[] the rule of law that is most persuasive in light of precedent, reason and policy."
We review a grant of summary judgment de novo and will affirm the judgment if there are no contested issues of material fact and if the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. In reviewing the superior court's decision to grant summary judgment, we are "not bound by the reasoning articulated by the lower court, and . can affirm a grant of summary judgment on alternative grounds, including grounds not advanced by the lower court or the parties." We may consider any issue contained in the record, even if not considered by the superior court, in defense of the judgment.
iV. DISCUSSION
There are now English-only laws in twenty-four states. The content of these laws varies significantly. Some are simply policy statements that English is the state's official language. Others designate English as the language of all official public documents, ree-ords or meetings. Still others state that government shall not be required to provide documents, information, or literature in other languages, but permit government employees to communicate in other languages for a wide range of reasons. In stark contrast stand an English-only amendment to the Arizona constitution, a proposed English-only statute in Oklahoma, and the OEL
These three English-only laws share the same basic structure: a declaration that English is the official language of the state, a requirement that only English be used by the state and its political subdivisions, and enumerated exceptions permitting the use of other languages. In its decision striking down the Arizona amendment, the Arizona Supreme Court noted that the law had been characterized as the nation's "most restrictively worded official-English law to date. That court held that the proposed amendment was a pure speech ban that infringed upon the rights of elected officials and public employees to communicate with the public, the rights of non-English speakers to participate in political affairs, and the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection. The Ninth Cireuit had earlier reached a similar conclusion when it too struck down the amendment, stating that the amendment's "ban on the use of languages other than English by persons in government service could hardly be more inclusive" because the amendment applied to the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of both state and local government and to "all government officials and employees during the performance of government business." The Oklahoma Supreme Court likewise struck down that state's proposed English-only initiative on state constitutional grounds. The court found that the initiative's broad seope sought "to prevent citizens of limited English proficiency from effectively communicating with government officials and from receiving, when available, vital information about government."
Alakayak and Kritz ask that we strike down the OEI on a constitutional basis similar to that used by the Arizona and Oklahoma courts. To determine whether the initiative is a constitutional regulation of speech we must determine (1) the seope of the law, (2) whether it burdens any constitutionally-protected rights, and, if so, (8) whether it withstands the appropriate level of judicial scrutiny given the nature of the rights it implicates.
Determining the scope of the OEI requires us to construe its meaning. In Part IV.A., we conclude that the first sentence of AS 44.12.320 broadly requires the use of English by all government officials and employees in all levels of government. Next, determining whether the statute burdens any constitutionally-protected rights requires us to evaluate its impact on the rights of private citizens, elected government officials, and government employees. In Part IV.B., we conclude that the same sentence impacts the constitutionally-protected speech of each of these groups. Third, determining whether the OEI withstands the appropriate level of serutiny is a two-step process. In Part IV.C., we first identify and evaluate the government interest in prescribing the use of English; second, we determine how closely the means chosen by the OEI fit the ends it serves. We conclude that while the OEI serves a compelling governmental interest, the means it uses are not sufficiently narrowly tailored to satisfy the federal or Alaska Constitutions.
In Part IV.D., we consider whether any unconstitutional provisions can be severed to preserve a portion of the law. We conclude that the first sentence of AS 44.12.9320 can be severed, allowing the second sentence of that section to stand. Finally, in Part IV.E. we set out the general principles for analyzing the other sections of the law.
A. The OEI Requires the Use of English in All Government Functions and Actions.
1. The language of the statute
The parties vigorously dispute the scope and effect of the law. We begin our analysis with its text:
See. 44.12.3001 Findings and purpose. The people of the State of Alaska find that English is the common unifying language of the State of Alaska and the United States of America, and declare a compelling interest in promoting, preserving and strengthening its use.
See. 44.12.8310. Official language. The English language is the official language of the State of Alaska.
Sec. 44.12.3820. Seope. The English language is the language to be used by all public agencies in all government functions and actions. The English language shall be used in the preparation of all official public documents and records, including all documents officially compiled, published or recorded by the government.
Sec. 44.12.330. Applicability. AS 44.12.300-44.12.390 apply to the legislative and executive branches of the State of Alaska and all political subdivisions, including all departments, agencies, divisions and instrumentalities of the State, the University of Alaska, all public authorities and corporations, all local governments and departments, agencies, divisions, and instru-mentalities of local governments, and all government officers and employees.
See. 44.12.8340. Exceptions. (a) The government, as defined in AS 44.12.3830, may use a language other than English when necessary for the following purposes:
(1) to communicate health and safety information or when an emergency requires the use of a language other than English;
(2) to teach another language to students proficient in English;
(3) to teach English to students of limited English proficiency;
(4) to promote international relations, trade, commerce, tourism or sporting events;
(5) to protect the constitutional and legal rights of criminal defendants;
(6) to serve the needs of the judicial system in civil and criminal cases in compliance with court rules and orders;
(7) to investigate criminal activity and protect the rights of crime victims;
(8) to the extent necessary to comply with federal law, including the Native American Languages Act;
(9) to attend or observe religious ceremonies; |
(10) to use non-English terms of art, names, phrases, or expressions included as part of communications otherwise in English; and ,
(11) to communicate orally with constituents by elected public officials and their staffs, if the public official or staff member is already proficient in a language other than English.
(b) An individual may provide testimony or make a statement to the government in a language other than English, if the individual is not an officer or employee of the government, and if the testimony or statement is translated into English and included in the records of the government.
See. 44.12.350. Public accountability. All costs related to the preparation, translation, printing, or recording of documents, records, brochures, pamphlets, flyers, or other material in languages other than English shall be defined as a separate line item in the budget of every governmental agency, department, or office.
See. 44.12.360. Non-denial of employment or services. (a) No governmental entity shall require knowledge of a language other than English as a condition of employment unless the requirements of the position fall within one of the exceptions provided in AS 44.12.340, and facility in another language is a bona fide job qualification required to fulfill a function included within one of the exceptions.
(b) No person may be denied services, assistance, benefits, or facilities, directly or indirectly provided by the government, because that, person communicates only in English.
See. 44.12.370. Private sector excluded. AS 44.12.300-44.12.390 shall not be construed in any way that infringes upon the rights of persons to use languages other than English in activities or functions conducted solely in the private sector, and the government may not restrict the use of language other than English in such private activities or functions.
See. 44.12.8380. Private cause of action authorized. Any person may bring suit against any governmental entity to enforce the provisions of AS 44.12.800-44.12.390. See. 44.12.8390. Severability. The provisions of AS 44.12.300-44.12.390 are independent and severable, and if any provision of AS 44.12.8300-44.12.390, or the applicability of any provision to any person or cireumstance, shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of AS 44.12.300-44.12.8390 shall not be affected and shall be given effect to the fullest extent practicable.
2. The Meaning of the Statute
ACL argues that the superior court misconstrued the purpose of the OEI, and that the law would have little impact on government because it was never intended as a categorical ban on communication in other languages. ACL claims that any potential constitutional problems can be avoided if we interpret the OEI as requiring the use of English only in the "formal" and "official" acts of government rather than as a categorical ban on speech in other languages in all aspects of government. The superior court, agreeing with Kritz and Alakayak, rejected ACL's proposed interpretation as unsupported by the text of the initiative itself or by the other ballot materials provided to voters on or before November 8, 1998.
a. Principles of statutory construction
Our precedent clearly establishes that "courts should if possible construe statutes so as to avoid the danger of unconstitutionality." To this end, "[a] party raising a constitutional challenge to a statute bears the burden of demonstrating the constitutional violation. A presumption of constitutionality applies, and doubts are resolved in favor of constitutionality." Thus, if we are able to avoid a finding of constitutional infirmity by construing the OEI to apply only to the "official" acts of government, our case law directs that we must do so. However, we may not read into a statute that which is not there, even in the interest of avoiding a finding of unconstitutionality, because "the extent to which the express language of the provision can be altered and departed from and the extent to which the infirmities can be rectified by the use of implied terms is limited by the constitutionally decreed separation of powers which prohibits this court from enacting legislation or redrafting defective statutes."
While we often look to legislative intent to construe the meaning of ambiguous statutes, we take a slightly different approach when interpreting initiatives enacted by the voters. When we construe a statute, we look at both its plain language and at its legislative history and, whenever possible, we construe a statute in light of its purpose. While "[s}tatements made by a bill's sponsor during legislative deliberations are relevant evidence when the court is trying to determine legislative intent{,]" we have also observed that "[where a statute's meaning appears plain and unambiguous . the party asserting a different meaning bears a correspondingly heavy burden of demonstrating contrary legislative intent." By contrast, when we review a ballot initiative, we look to any published arguments made in support or opposition to determine what meaning voters may have attached to the initiative. But we will not accord special weight to the stated intentions of any individual sponsor that are not reflected in the content of the legislation itself To the extent possible, we attempt to place ourselves in the position of the voters at the time the initiative was placed on the ballot, and we try to interpret the initiative using the tools available to the citizens of this state at that time.
ACL has urged this court to consider the affidavits of the OET's drafters and sponsors as we construe the initiative. Kritz responds that it would be inappropriate to rely on these affidavits as evidence of voter intent because materials which were not published and distributed to the electorate "do not carry the indicia of trustworthiness from having been presumptively distributed to and read by each and every voter. We agree. Because we must construe an initiative by looking to the materials considered by the voters themselves, we cannot rely on affidavits of the sponsors' intent"" Accordingly, we will rely only upon materials that Alaska voters had available and would have relied upon to determine the seope and impact of the OEI.
b. The OEI was presented to voters as an English-only law.
The parties dispute whether the OEI is properly characterized as an English-only law. ACU's statement in support of the initiative stated that "this bill will have no impact on public or private use of Alaska Native languages," that the initiative will impose a limit only on the government, and that "[plrivate citizens will still be able to use any language they want, anywhere, at any time." (Emphasis in original.) The summary described English as "our official language," "a symbol" which reminds "Alaskans of every race, religion, and background of what we all have in common."
In contrast, the opposition statement of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warned that, if enacted, the law "will have severe consequences for the many non-English speaking residents and citizens of Alaska." Highlighting some of these consequences, the statement cautioned that the law would not protect the use of Native languages, that it would require government employees to communicate with non-English speakers only in English even if they were able to speak the individual's language, that it would bar non-English speakers from receiving many services to which they are entitled, and that it would violate the constitutional rights of each Alaskan "to speak in the language of their choice," "to petition their government for redress of grievances," and "to equal protection of the laws." We agree.
The OEI, presented to voters as Ballot Measure 6, was entitled "Requiring Government to Use English." The ballot measure contained a neutral summary prepared by the lieutenant governor, a Legislative Affairs Agency summary, a copy of the full text of the proposed statute, a statement in support of the statute drafted by its sponsor ACL, and a statement in opposition to the statute drafted by the ACLU.
The neutral summary stated:
This bill requires the state to use English in all government functions and actions. State records must be in English. "The state" means the legislature, all state agencies, local governments, school districts, public corporations and the university. Those entities may use non-English languages for international trade, emergencies, teaching languages, court suits, erimi-nal inquiries, for elected officials to talk to constituents or to comply with federal law. Costs of non-English records must be identified. Persons who speak only English may not be denied state jobs or services. The bill does not affect private see-tor use of non-English languages.
The Legislative Affairs Agency summary explained that the OEI would require each public office, including each office of the state, public corporations and local governments, to use English in all functions, except in eleven enumerated cireumstances. It further explained: "A person who is not a public officer or employee may make a statement to the government in another language if it is changed into English and made a part of the record." (Emphasis added.) The summary concluded: "The government may not stop the use of another language in a private function. A person may sue to enforce this measure."
c. The OEI, as enacted, governs more than the "official" or "formal" acts of government.
ACL argues that AS 44.12.310 and .320, when read together, support its argument that the OEI was meant to apply only to the "official" or authorized acts of the State, and prove that the OEI recognizes a "common sense" distinction between "formal" and "informal" acts of government. These sections of the initiative provide:
Sec. 44.12.8310. Official language. The English language is the official language of the State of Alaska.
See. 44.12.820. Scope. The English language is the language to be used by all public agencies in all government functions and actions. The English language shall be used in the preparation of all official public documents and records, including all documents officially compiled, published or recorded by the government.
(Emphasis added.) According to ACL, if the first sentence of section .320 applied to all acts by government employees, the see-ond sentence would be unnecessary; thus its inclusion plainly modifies the reach of the initiative to govern only "official" state fune-tions. ACL maintains that the OEI's language "plainly contemplates a category of informal, unofficial, written documents which it does not purport to govern." ACL argues in addition that because the OEI contemplates instances in which the government may use informal written materials in languages other than English, it is reasonable to construe the statute to permit informal oral communication in languages other than English as well. While ACL concedes that the government must act through its officers and employees, it claims that the OEI requires only that they use English to the extent that they are carrying out the "government functions and actions" of "public agencies"-that is, only to the extent they are performing official, authorized acts of government. We disagree regarding the first sentence of AS 44.12.5320.
A similar argument was attempted-unsuccessfully-by proponents of English-only laws before the highest courts of both Arizona and Oklahoma. The Arizona court addressed the distinction between "official" and "unofficial" acts of government in Ruiz v. Hull, after the Arizona Attorney General, in defending the law, argued that only "official acts of government" would be affected by the implementation of Article XXVIII of the Arizona Constitution (the amendment). While somewhat more broadly applied than the OEI, the amendment similarly provided that English must be the language of "all government functions and actions," that all employees of the state must act in English, and that all government documents must be written in the English language. The attorney general maintained that "the Amendment should not be read to prohibit public employees from using non-English languages while performing their public functions that could not be characterized as official." The court noted the inconsistency of that interpretation with both the language of the amendment, which applied to "all government functions and actions," and with the ordinary meaning of those terms, which "do not impose such a limitation." The Ruiz court concluded:
By its express terms, the Amendment is not limited to official government acts or to the "formal, policy making, enacting and binding activities of the government." Rather, it is plainly written in the broadest possible terms, declaring that the "English language is the language of . all government functions and actions" and prohibiting all "government officials and employees" at every level of state and local government from using non-English languages "during the performance of government business."
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma reached a similar conclusion in In re Initiative Petition No. 366. The initiative at issue in Oklahoma required that "[all official doeu-ments, transactions, proceedings, meetings, or publications issued, which are conducted or regulated by, on behalf of, or representing the state and all of its political subdivisions shall be in the English language." The court construed this provision to "prohibit all governmental communications, both written and oral, by government employees, elected officials, and citizens, of all words, even those which are of common usage, in any language other than English when conducting state business." The court concluded that this restriction prevented non-English speakers from effectively communicating with government officials and from receiving vital information about government.
The same issues are presented in this case. The first sentence of AS 44.12.320 requires the use of English in "all government fune-tions and actions." Because the plain language of the initiative is so clear, ACL "bears a correspondingly heavy burden of demonstrating contrary [voter] intent." We next turn to an examination of the ballot materials to determine whether ACL has met this burden.
ACL points to no ballot materials that indicate that the voters might have contemplated distinctions between "official" and "unofficial" or "formal" and "informal" acts of government when they enacted the OEI. The Legislative Affairs Agency summary explicitly stated that, pursuant to the OEI, every public officer or employee of the state would be required to use English in all functions, except in situations governed by the eleven enumerated exceptions. While ACL's statement in support of the initiative claimed that it would limit only government speech and would have no effect on the speech of private individuals, it did not state that the initiative would allow government employees to engage in informal or unofficial conversation with private citizens regarding government business in a language other than English.
Because the meaning of the first sentence of AS 44.12.320 appears plain and unambiguous, and because ACL has not offered suffi-client evidence of contrary voter intent, we have no basis to find that the voters shared what ACL calls its "common sense" reading of the initiative. The first sentence of Seetion .820 plainly mandates the use of English by government officers and employees in the performance of their jobs, whether communicating with English or non-English speakers, except in specific cireumstances. According ly, we reject ACT's contention that the plain language of the first sentence of AS 44.12.320, permits the "unofficial" or "informal" use of languages other than English by state officials or employees in the performance of their duties.
d. The second sentence of AS 44.12.320 does not prohibit the use of non-English languages in unofficial or informal public documents.
The same principles we applied to the first sentence of the OEI apply here as well. A "presumption of constitutionality applies, and doubts are resolved in favor of constitutionality." If we can save a statute, or part of one, via a narrowing construction, we must do so. This presumption is limited, though, by our reluctance to step into the shoes of the legislature and redraft legislation.
In contrast to the first sentence of .320, the second sentence is capable of a narrow reading that is supported by its text and by the ballot materials. The text of the second sentence includes the word "official," thus "plainly contemplat[ingl," as ACL argues, "a category of informal, unofficial written documents" outside the reach of the OEL. Furthermore, the part of the neutral ballot summary addressing the second sentence of 320 states only, "State records must be in English." It does not require that all state records must be in English, at least suggesting that those state records that are not official are not within the reach of the OEI. Since the text of AS 44.12.320 and the ballot materials demonstrate that the second sentence of section .320 is capable of a narrow construction, we are bound by our rules of statutory interpretation to use that construction.
Of what, then, does this "category of informal, unofficial written documents" consist? We agree with ACL's position that the distinction between "official" and "unofficial" is "a conceptual distinetion, not a laundry list." Looking at the record, we are met with various examples of documents that appear to be "unofficial" or "informal." They are not published to the public but rather are written for an individual or a private audience. They lack indicia of formality such as seals or binding. They may even be handwritten. This category of unofficial or informal documents would include such documents as a note in Spanish from a teacher to a monolingual Spanish-speaking parent; a letter from a city councilor in Yupik responding to a constituent inquiry; a letter in Tlingit from a public health employee offering medical advice; or an invoice prepared in Yupik by a city mechanic for services rendered. None of these documents is an "official public document" in the sense that each one is individually tailored, is geared to address a private inquiry, and is generally not released to the public. These enumerated examples are neither exelusive nor comprehensive; nor by the discussion of these specific examples do we mean to provide a definitive holding as to their nature. This case presents, after all, only a facial challenge to the statute.
Furthermore, we construe the second sentence of AS 44.12.320 to mean that multilingual official documents are not prohibited so long as an English version of the document is published. The second sentence states that "[the English language shall be used" in official documents. The first sentence, in contrast, states that English is "the language" to be used. We take this to mean that the first sentence of AS 44.12.3820 intends an exclusivity of English and has a prohibitory function. The second sentence, in contrast, has a permissive aspect, allowing the use of non-English languages in documents so long as English is also used. Thus, the OEI would allow a fisheries notice to be posted in English and Yupik; it would allow the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to provide written information in English, Tagalog, and Spanish; and it would allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to give examinations in multiple languages. In keeping with this narrow construction, we believe, contrary to the argument of Alaka-yak, that the second sentence would not prohibit the publication of "monograms of graduate student dissertations children's books written in Yupik . ads and messages placed in the Anchorage Blue Book . or assorted messages and notes tacked to a community bulletin board in a Yupik village." This construction is the basis for our holding that unconstitutional portions of the OEI may be severed from constitutional portions.
B. Section .320 Impacts Constitutionally-Protected Speech.
Having determined that the first sentence of AS 44.12.320 broadly requires the use of English by all government officers and employees in all government functions and actions at the state and local levels, we next examine whether this mandate impacts rights protected by the Alaska or federal Constitutions.
The protections for speech provided by the Alaska and federal Constitutions are numerous and sometimes overlapping, and nearly all of them are relevant to official-English laws. The federal Constitution provides that "Congress shall make no law . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The Alaska Constitution provides that "[elvery person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right." The Alaska Constitution also provides that "[the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the govern ment shall never be abridged." We have previously stated that the Alaska Constitution protects free speech "at least as broad{[ly] as the U.S. Constitution" and "in a more explicit and direct manner."
1. Section .320 controls more than the content of the government's own speech.
ACL argues that the OEI has no impact on constitutionally-protected speech because the government can determine the content, form, and manner of its own speech. According to ACL, since the OEI governs only government speech, no individual liberty interests are implicated. In support of this argument, ACL cites four U.S. Supreme Court cases for the proposition that "when the state is the speaker, it may make content-based choices . [because the government may] regulate the content of what is or is not expressed when it is the speaker or when it enlists private entities to convey its own message." ACL argues that under this "state-as-speaker" doctrine, the government's ability to "make value, policy, or content choices for its own speech" is "undisputed."
Alakayak acknowledges the state's discretion to control its own speech, but it argues that ACL places more weight on the state-as-speaker doctrine than it can bear. It also disputes ACL's characterization of the OEI as investing a monolithic state government with a single pro-English message conveyed by every public official, employee, and agency at both the state and local levels at all times.
First, Alakayak argues that ACL mischar-acterizes the state-as-speaker doctrine, which Alakayak claims has never been extended further than messages communicated by a narrow sector of government (ie., the grantees of a single federally-funded program or a specific class of organization, such as universities ). Alakayak contends that the OEI, by contrast, requires that the "State speak[ ] with a unitary voice through all of its employees and officers at all times," thus "chill{ing] all debate and discussion by public officials, employees, and the public, and . casting] a 'pall of orthodoxy' over our entire system of government and society." Alakayak also argues that the state-as-speaker doctrine would not apply to communications by "all local governments and departments, agencies, divisions, and instrumentalities of local governments," and all their "officers and employees," since they are not typically authorized to speak for the state as its representative, officer, employee, or agent.
Second, Alakayak charges that ACL overreaches in characterizing the OEI as a "message." Alakayak argues that the government "messages" that have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in government-as-speaker cases have been narrow and related to a specific objective of a specific government program." Alakayak argues that the OEI's sweeping scope goes far beyond discrete, affirmative steps to advance the goal of promoting the acquisition. of English-language skills, and instead "imposes across-the-board impediments on the ordinary functioning of existing public institutions." Ala-| kayak argues that imposing one message-communication in English-on all state and local government employees distorts the functioning of government entities created to serve entirely unrelated purposes, especially elected bodies, agencies, and schools, in a way never contemplated by the government-as-speaker cases.
'We agree that ACL overstates the scope of the government-as-speaker doctrine. The government actors/speakers in these federal cases were narrowly defined (specific funding grantees, universities ) and the government messages and programs involved were specific (family planning; legal representation for welfare clients ). This presents a marked contrast to the OEI, in which a "message"-that communication must occur in the English language-is to be conveyed by every state and local government official and employee in every single interaction such persons have with the public. While there are undoubtedly numerous highly specific situations in which the state could invoke the state-as-speaker doctrine to justify a requirement that government speech be in English, these situations would represent only a tiny fraction of the total speech that the OEI covers. For example, the state could publish all official government documents in English or require driver licensing examinations to be conducted solely in English; but the OEI requires the use of English in virtually every interaction between Alaska's citizens and their government.
ACL's argument, that all speech restricted by the OE1 can be characterized as "government speech" subject to the state-as-speaker doctrine, must fail. While we have not previously been required to articulate the contours of the state-as-speaker doctrine, we cannot conclude that the U.S. Supreme Court intended this doctrine to justify a speech ban affecting every elected official and employee in the legislative and executive branches, all departments and offices of state government, and all subordinate local" governments. Rather, it appears that the state-as-speaker doctrine governs communications made by a defined group of government employees or agents in the pursuit of narrowly-focused policy goals. Accordingly, the OEI cannot be justified as a limit on the government's own speech.
2. Section .320 impacts the speech rights of private citizens and government officers and employees.
Having determined that the OEI is not exempt from scrutiny as a regulation of the government's own speech, we must next de termine what speech rights it implicates. For the reasons discussed below, we conclude that the OEI impacts the speech rights of three distinct groups: non-English speaking citizens who seek to participate in public life, elected officials, and public employees.
a. Section .320 impacts the recipient speech rights of non-English speaking citizens and their right to petition the government.
Alakayak and Kritz argue that the OEI infringes the recipient speech rights of Alaska citizens. Recipient speech rights are predicated on the idea that the First Amendment ensures "public access to discussion, debate, and the dissemination of information and ideas." As such, "the Constitution protects the right to receive information and ideas," because this is "a necessary predicate to the recipient's meaningful exercise of his own rights of speech, press and political freedom." Protection of recipient speech rights was a primary reason that the Arizona and Oklahoma Supreme Courts and the Ninth Cireuit struck down the English-only laws in Arizona and Oklahoma. In all three cases, the courts found that the laws impacted the recipient speech rights of citizens with limited English proficiency by preventing them from communicating with bilingual employees who would have been otherwise able and willing to provide them with information about the government. The supreme courts of Arizona and Oklahoma also held that the prohibition constituted an infringement of the right of citizens to petition the government. While those courts were careful to clarify that their decisions in no way conferred a right to multilingual services, they all suggested the importance of a citizen's right to meaningfully receive important information that a government employee was able and willing to provide at no cost to the state. As the Ninth Cireuit stated:
[TIhere is no claim of an affirmative right to compel the state to provide multilingual information, but instead only a claim of a negative right: that the state cannot, consistent with the First Amendment, gag the employees currently providing members of the public with information and thereby effectively preclude large numbers of persons from receiving information that they have previously received.! "
Alakayak urges us to find the OEI unconstitutional on similar grounds because, it asserts, information about government is essential to full participation in civic life, and there are many bilingual or multilingual employees who could willingly provide this information if they were allowed to do so.
Alakayak and Kritz also argue that the OET restricts the ability of Alaska's citizens to petition their government, a right protected both by the First Amendment to the federal constitution and by article I, section 6 of the Alaska Constitution." Alakayak reasons that because the OEI forbids govern ment employees from communicating in languages other than English, non-English speakers will face impediments to the full exercise of their right to seek redress for their grievances or even to communicate effectively with government officials. Such obstacles could arise when a non-English speaking citizen attempts to communicate with an elected official or government employee in a language other than English, but the government agent is required to respond in English, even if the agent is conversant in the other language, and even if it is clear that the citizen will not understand what is being communicated.
ACL does not address the argument that the OEI restricts the right to petition the government. Rather, it objects to appel-lees' recipient rights analysis because, it claims, these rights exist only if there is a "willing speaker," which, it asserts, by virtue of the OEI, the state is not." According to ACL, because the law requires government officials and employees to communicate only in English, there is no speaker willing to speak in another language to give rise to a recipient's right to receive a message. ACL's argument is not persuasive.
The trial court's factual findings contain numerous examples of the ways in which multi-lingual government officials and employees assist and provide information to non-English speaking citizens in the course of performing their jobs. For example, Henry Alakayak, a member of the city council and local community school committee in Ma-nokotak, regularly uses Yupik in the course of his government duties to assist his village and constituents; several educators indicated that they would not be able to perform their jobs properly if they could not use other languages to communicate with students and parents; and an employee of the Alaska State Ferry System communicates with both co-workers and passengers in Spanish,. The pleadings and affidavits submitted by appel-lees offer numerous additional examples of such behavior.
No court has held that a government is constitutionally required to provide services to its citizens in a language other than English, and we intimate no such requirement. But it is an altogether different matter whether government may constitutionally prohibit the use of other languages by government employees who are capable and willing to provide services in such languages. A similar sentiment was expressed by Judge Brunetti in his concurrence in Ymiguez:
While I feel there may be some tension between the public interest in receiving Yniguez's public services in Spanish as described by the majority, and our prior cases which hold that there is no right to receive government services in a language other than English, our holding today does not conflict with those prior cases....
As the majority carefully describes, we are only considering the interest of the public in receiving speech when govern ment employees exercise their right to utter such speech, and we do not create an independently enforceable public right to receive information in another language. "
We agree with Kritz and Alakayak that the OEI adversely affects the recipient speech rights of Alaska citizens with limited English proficiency, and that it impedes their ability to effectively petition the government.
b. Section .320 impacts the speech rights of legislators and other elected officials.
The right of elected officials to speak freely and to communicate with their constituents is firmly grounded in constitutional law. In Bond v. Floyd the U.S. Supreme Court held that "[the manifest function of the First Amendment in a representative government requires that legislators be given the widest latitude to express their views on issues of policy." The Court explicitly rejected the argument that the First Amendment protects only free debate about government among citizens, noting that legislators have an obligation to speak about controversial issues to inform and fully represent their constituents. Four justices of this court reached a similar conclusion in finding that the First Amendment protects the right of the governor to write and speak to answer his detractors. The Arizona Supreme Court and the Ninth Cireuit struck down the Arizona English-only law in part because it infringed upon the free-speech rights of legislators. The superior court ruled similarly in this case.
Alaska Statute 44.12.340(a)(11) provides a limited exception to the English-only requirement: It allows elected officials and their staffs to communicate orally with their constituents in a language other than English if the speakers are already proficient in the language used. But this exception for oral communication does not allow legislators to exercise their full speech rights to speak with each other in a language other than English, or even to communicate with their constituents if the elected officials are not already proficient in that language; in these respects it violates Bond v. Floyd. Moreover, it violates Thoma v. Hickel by restricting the ability of elected officials and their staffs to communicate in writing.
ACL does not address Bond, but it argues that Thoma is irrelevant because, under ACL's "official/unofficial" construction, the OEI touches no protected speech. We have already rejected ACL's contention that the OEI governs only the most formal written acts of government; as discussed in Part TV.A.2., this argument is wholly unsupported by the text of the initiative or the materials presented to the electorate. Because the OEI limits the ability of public officials to communicate with each other or their constituents in a language other than English, we hold that it infringes upon their right to speak freely and to fully represent their constituents.
c. Section .320 impacts the speech rights of public employees.
In Wickwire v. State we analyzed the speech rights of Alaska's public employees using the test articulated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Pickering v. Board of Education of Township High School District 205, Will County, Ilinois. The Pickering test assumes that employees have speech rights, and it analyzes speech-related employment decisions by balancing "the interests of the [employeel, as a citizen, in commenting upon matters of public concern and the interest of the State, as an employer, in promoting the efficiency of the public services it performs through its employees." In contrast to the speech of citizens on matters of public concern, speech by a government employee on matters of only personal interest is generally not thought to enjoy First Amendment protection.
ACL reasons that when a government employee exercises his or her free-speech rights, he or she speaks "as a citizen" and not as an employee; therefore such speech is the employee's private speech, which is specifically excepted from the reach of the OEI in AS 44.12.370. According to ACL, because the OEI requires officials and employees to speak only in English when conducting the business of government, it implicates only government speech. Effectively, this argument reduces to the claim that since the government as employer can control the content of its own speech, and since the OEI requires the government to speak in English, the OEI implicates no private speech. We disagree with ACL's reasoning.
As we noted in Part IV.B.1., the OEI governs more than merely the government's own speech. And a broad ex ante prohibition on communication runs afoul of our prior construction of Pickering. We have previously noted the difficulty 'of predicting in advance what types of employee speech will turn out to be protected, stating that "[dJue to the wide variety of situations in which public employee free speech issues may arise, the [Pickering] court expressly declined to establish a general standard against which the statements of all public employees could be judged"; rather, Pickering articulates a balancing test that is applied on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, Alaska law is more protective of employee speech than is federal law. Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court in Conmick v. Myers rejected a public employee's claim that she was fired for commenting on a matter of public concern, and instead characterized her speech as an "employee grievance concerning internal office policy," we stated that:
[We believe it appropriate to construe the "public concern" criteria broadly to encompass speech on a wide range of subjects. From a public policy standpoint, it makes sense to encourage employee speech about the operations of government since employees often are in the best position to offer informed opinions. Our reading of Conmick suggests that there may be instances where we would find that certain speech addressed a matter of public concern and was protected under Alaska's Constitution even though a federal claim might yield a contrary result."
Alaska constitutional law posits that a public employee's speech on matters of public concern may indeed be most valuable when contributed by an employee as an employee; it does not recognize a strict division between the speaker as citizen and as employee. Because ACL concedes that the intent of the OEI is to restrict the speech of public employees as public employees, we conclude that the OEI implicates employee speech rights.
The Ninth Circuit reached a similar conclusion in Ymigues, a case in which the named plaintiff was a bilingual state employee who feared disciplinary action if she continued to communicate in Spanish with Spanish-speaking clients" The Ninth Circuit acknowledged that the employee's claims did not fit easily into the Pickering/Conmick "citizen speech vs. employee speech" framework, precisely because the same speech in Spanish that was of great concern to non-English-speaking members of the public was also the speech that constituted the performance of the employee's official duties" As the Ninth Cireuit explained,
The employee speech banned by the [Arizona amendment] is unquestionably of public import. It pertains to the provision of governmental services and information. Unless that speech is delivered in a form that the intended recipients can comprehend, they are likely to be deprived of much needed data as well as of substantial public and private benefts
We agree that a wholesale prohibition on speech in languages other than English by all state and local government employees creates an untenable risk of preventing employees from speaking freely on matters of public concern. To the extent that the OEI bars elected officials and public employees from helping citizens secure available services and participate fully in civic life, it touches upon matters of public concern.
Having determined that the OEI infringes upon protected speech, we turn next to whether this infringement may be upheld.
C. The OEI Is Not Narrowly Tailored To Serve a Compelling State Interest.
Having determined that a provision of the OEI impacts the speech rights of the public, of elected officials, and of public employees, we next address whether the act survives constitutional serutiny. This is a multi-part inquiry. First, we consider Row the OEI impacts protected speech, for this will tell us the level of serutiny to which the law must be subjected. Next, we identify and evaluate the government's interest in prescribing the use of English in communications between government and its constituents. Finally, we determine how closely the means chosen by the OEI fit the ends served by the law.
1. The OEI is subject to strict seruti-ny.
How the OEI impacts protected speech determines the state's burden in upholding the law's constitutionality. ACL argues that the OEI affects only the form and not the content of government speech, and that it affects neither the form nor content of citizen speech. Alakayak and Kritz respond that the OEI constitutes a content- and viewpoint-based restriction, as well as a prior restraint, both in its parts and as a whole.
The latitude accorded the government to regulate speech depends upon several factors, including the cireumstances involved and the nature of the speech. But because "the principle of content neutrality [is] at the core of First Amendment analysis," we begin with this issue. It is exceedingly rare that any law restricting speech based on its content or viewpoint will be upheld, for the United States Supreme Court has stated that "[clontent-based regulations are presumptively invalid." Such restrictions are subject to the strictest seruti-ny, and "only a regulation which impinges on the right to speak and associate to the least possible degree consistent with the achievement of the state's legitimate goals will pass constitutional muster." 'Restrictions that are content-neutral, on the other hand, are subject to intermediate serutiny, which means that they are "valid provided that they are justified without reference to the content of the regulated speech, that they are narrowly tailored to serve a significant governmental interest, and that they leave open ample alternative channels for communication of the information." But even a content-neutral restriction will be subject to strict scrutiny if it imposes a prior restraint on speech. "A prior restraint is an official restriction imposed upon speech or other forms of expression in advance of actual publication." This stands in contrast to a punishment imposed after a communication has been made." Both the federal and Alaska Constitutions look with disfavor on broad-based prior restraint rules that forbid public employees from engaging in wide categories of speech, whether related to their official duties or not; such restraints bear a heavy presumption against their constitutionality because of their chilling effect on potentially protected speech."
Laws prohibiting communication in languages other than English are difficult to categorize. We can readily agree with the Ninth Cireuit that such a restriction affects more than conduct, because "[s)peech in any language is still speech, and the decision to speak in another language is a decision involving speech alone." But the question whether a law specifying that only one language may be spoken should be classified as content-based is a closer one. The OEI does not present the classic example of a content-based restriction, such as a prohibition on political protest based upon the viewpoint represented or a restriction on sexually explicit television programming." But clearly such a restriction affects more than the form of speech. Communication begins with language, and a non-English-speaking Alaskan could be absolutely precluded from speaking or otherwise communicating with the government by the OEI. As the Arizona Supreme Court noted when confronted with a similar question, a law forcing communication only in English bars communication itself; such a restriction cannot be content-neutral because that designation, "by definition, and require[s] the availability of alternative means of communication." Thus, like the Arizona Court, we conclude that the OEI is a content-based restriction on language." But the precise label we attach to the law for analytical purposes is not critical when viewed in light of the OEI's sweeping impact. The OEI prohibits speech itself: It defines a broad category of speech-speech in languages other than English-and simply forbids it.
If all government communications must be in English, some voices will be silenced, some ideas will remain unspoken, and some ideas will remain unchallenged. Such a requirement harms "society as a whole, which is deprived of an uninhibited marketplace of ideas." "Complete speech bans, unlike content-neutral restrictions on time, place, or manner of expression, are particularly dangerous because they all but foreclose alternative means of disseminating certain information." Such a restriction violates the core values protected by the First Amendment and article I, section 5 of the Alaska Constitution.
Because the OEI literally restricts speech itself-both oral and written communications in languages other than English-it must overcome a significant hurdle to justify its constitutionality.' Specifically, to withstand constitutional serutiny the OEI must be narrowly tailored to achieve a compelling government interest. We thus turn to the question whether the State of Alaska has a compelling interest in forbidding the use of languages other than English in the conduct of all government activities.
2. The interests underlying the OEI are compelling.
The purpose of the OEI is described in AS 44.12.300, which states:
The people of the State of Alaska find that English is the common unifying language of the State of Alaska and the United States of America, and declare a compelling interest in promoting, preserving and strengthening its use.
ACL argues that the OEI also serves the goal of "promoting unity among Alaskans with diverse backgrounds through a common language" and of "empower[ing]" Alaska's non-English-speaking population with knowledge of the English language. ACL further claims that the OEI promotes efficiency by limiting "the growth of government services in multiple languages, thereby conserving limited public resources." ACL argues that while some might believe, as did the superior court, that "laws about language don't accomplish much," such a belief "does not provide a constitutional basis to disparage the purposes of the Act as suspect or illegitimate, still less to reject them a priori as ineffective." Ap-pellees do not address whether the state's interests in the challenged legislation are compelling.
Courts have historically found a broad range of governmental interests to be compelling. During one recent term alone, the United States Supreme Court acknowledged as compelling the government's interests in promoting racial diversity in education, its interest in protecting children from pornography, and its interest in ensuring fair elections. And this court, in turn, has recently found that the state had a compelling interest in protecting juveniles and curbing juvenile crime, in maintaining order in its jails, and in regulating campaign finance.
Turning to the specific governmental interests involved in this case, courts have recognized the importance of promoting linguistic unity in a diverse society and of helping non-native English speakers to acquire English language skills. As the Supreme Court of Arizona noted in Ruiz, "in our diverse society the importance of establishing common bonds and a. common language between citizens is clear." That court went on to say, "We recognize that the acquisition of English language skills is important in our society." The importance of English language literacy has been recognized by the United States Congress through legislation regarding naturalization and instruction in English as a second language. And the United States Supreme Court, in a recent decision on access to educational opportunities, noted that "[elffective participation by members of all racial and ethnic groups in the civic life of our Nation is essential if the dream of one Nation, indivisible, is to be realized." We conclude that the OEI's stated purposes of "promoting, preserving and strengthening" the use of English, encouraging the acquisition of English-language proficiency, and increasing the efficiency of government, are, as stated in the OEI itself, compelling interests. Accordingly, we turn to the question whether the state can achieve its objective through less restrictive means.
3. The OEI is not sufficiently narrowly tailored to achieve its ends.
We have held that in order for a law to survive strict serutiny, it must be narrowly tailored to promote a compelling governmental interest and be the least restrictive means available to vindicate that interest. The government is constrained by how it may pursue its valid objectives: "[Tlhe means chosen to accomplish the [government's] asserted purpose must be specifically and narrowly framed to accomplish that purpose." Accordingly, we look to the enumerated goals of the OEI and we consider whether the means employed to reach them are the least restrictive available to do so.
The OET's first enumerated goal is "promoting, preserving and strengthening the use of English." The means chosen, prohibiting the use of other languages in most instances, is considerably broader than other available alternatives. For example, the state could create and fund programs promoting English as a second language. The goal of arming non-English speakers with knowledge of English could directly be achieved by teaching English to non-English speakers. The goal of conserving public resources by limiting the use of other languages could be achieved by legislation that clearly relieves the state of the responsibility of providing services in languages other than English. We conclude that the prohibition on the use of all languages other than English in the conduct of all levels of government in Alaska is not the least restrictive means available to meet the valid interests of the OEL
Indeed, not only is the OEI insufficiently narrowly tailored to pass constitutional muster, but the methods it employs in support of its admirable goals may be of questionable efficacy. While the statement in support of the ballot measure noted that "[wle need to help people learn English," the OEI does not create or expand programs to teach English to non-English speakers, but merely creates an incentive to learn English by making it more difficult for people to interact with their government. Nor does it appear that the OEI will increase efficiency if it prohibits the cost-free use of a language other than English by government officials and public employees. .
ACL argued below that it was unnecessary to make provisions for English-language education since other state laws address general and bilingual education. Instead, ACL explained, "the very purpose of AS 44.12.8320 and the Law generally is to encourage English-learning by sending a clear message to the public, and by preventing the government from discouraging English-learning by unchecked expansion of non-English services." In Meyer v. State of Nebraska, the U.S. Supreme Court held that goals similar to the OET's were insufficient to justify a law forbidding schools from teaching foreign languages before the eighth grade. That the state may do much, go very far, indeed, in order to improve the quality of its citizens, physically, mentally and morally, is clear; . but this cannot be coerced by methods which conflict with the Constitution-a desirable end cannot be promoted by prohibited means." Because the OEI attempts to coerce its lawful objectives by methods that conflict with the core protections of the United States and Alaska Constitutions, the law cannot withstand constitutional serutiny. There are less restrictive ways to promote civic unity and to promote, preserve, and strengthen the use of English. We therefore conclude that ACL has not met its burden of justifying the resulting restrictions on the free speech rights of government officers and employees and the recipients of their speech, and on the rights of citizens to petition their government.
D. The Unconstitutional Provisions Can Be Severed.
Having decided that the OEI unconstitutionally infringes upon the speech rights of government officials and employees, and that it limits Alaskans' ability to participate fully in public life, we must next determine if the law can be saved by severing any unconstitutional provisions. After oral argument, and in light of our initial reservations about the constitutionality of the OEIT's broad reach, we asked the parties to submit additional briefing on whether any potentially unconstitutional provisions of the OEI could be severed. Our review of the parties' helpful briefing on severance has convinced us that the unconstitutional provision of the initiative-the first sentence of AS 44.12.320-may be severed from the remainder of the initiative and that the remainder should be preserved under the standards established by our precedents.
A proper measure of respect for lawmaking by the people through the initiative process requires that only those portions of initiated laws that are unconstitutional should be struck down. We have previously held that striking the whole of an initiative "rather than excising the invalid portion would place an unwarranted constriction on the rights of the people to express their will by popular vote." This is especially true where, as in this case, the initiative contains a severability clause requiring that only offending portions be stricken and that the rest of the law be retained. But severance, as distinct from striking down an initiative in its entirety, is only permissible when established standards are satisfied.
'In answering whether this is an appropriate case for severance, we first consider the various severance tests we have used in past cases and determine the proper standard for a statute that has been enacted through the initiative process. We then determine whether the initiative in this case, as redacted, meets those standards.
1. Lynden Transport is the test for severability of enacted measures, whatever their source.
We originally established standards for determining whether a statute is severable in Lynden Transport, Inc. v. State In that case, we considered a statute that had been enacted by the legislature. The Lynden Transport test asks (1) whether "legal effect can be given" to the severed statute and (2) if "the legislature intended the provision to stand" in the event other provisions were struck down. But neither party in this case looks to Lynden Transport for the test for severance.
ACL urges that we use the test articulated in McAlpine v: University of Alaska and most recently applied in Alaska Action Center v. Municipality of Anchorage in determining severability, and the Alakayak appel- lees assume its applicability. In those cases, we were faced with initiative proposals that had not yet been voted upon by the electorate. The McAlpine test is substantially similar to the Lynden Transport test except in that it also requires us to look to the "spirit of the measure." We have never had the occasion to determine whether the standard applied in McAlpine and Alaska Action Center for the pre-election review of an initiative should also apply to an initiative after it has been approved by the voters. In other words, we have not decided which sev-erability test to apply to enacted initiatives.
We conclude that there is no compelling reason to apply a different severability analysis to statutes enacted by the people from those enacted by the legislature. Thus, there is no reason that McAlpine should apply to enacted initiatives. Whether a statute was enacted by vote of the legislature or vote of the people, the risk involved in severing a statute is that an erroneous judicial reading of the intent of those who enacted the statute will result in a statute that no one wanted. While this risk is real, it is not qualitatively different for a statute enacted by the legislature and one enacted by the voters. Thus, there is no need for a different test.
Several other states treat statutes the same for the purposes of severability regardless of the manner in which the statute was enacted. For example, the California Supreme Court has stated that, in matters of severability, "we can discern no meaningful distinctions between statutes 'enacted' by the people and statutes enacted by the Legislature." Likewise the Washington Supreme Court has stated that it "interpret[s] initiatives based on the same rules of construction we apply to statutes passed by the legislature."
For these reasons, we conclude that the proper test to apply in determining severability of the EOI is that set out in Lynden Transport. We turn now to application of that test.
2. The redacted initiative satisfies the test for severability.
a. The severability clause places the burden on the challengers to show that the Lynden Transport test is not satisfied.
At the outset it is important to note the consequences of the voters' approval of the severability clause in the initiative, AS 44.12.390. The severability clause places on those challenging the statute the burden of showing that the Lynden Transport test is not satisfied by a redaction. In Lynden Transport we adopted with approval the following language of the United States Supreme Court:
In the absence of [a severability clause], the presumption is that the Legislature intends an act to be effective as an entirety-that is to say, the rule is against the mutilation of a statute; and if any provision be unconstitutional, the presumption is that the remaining provisions fall with it. The effect of the [severability clause] is to reverse this presumption in favor of inseparability, and create the opposite one of separability. [In the absence of a sever-ability clause], the burden is upon the supporter of the legislation to show the separability of the provisions involved. [In the presence of a severability clause], the burden is shifted to the assailant to show their inseparability .
[With a severability clause], the presumption must be overcome by considerations which establish "the clear probability that the invalid part being eliminated the Legislature would not have been satisfied with what remains."
The emphasis was added by the Lynden court. We applied this rule in Kenai Peninsula Borough School District v. Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Classified Association, where we held that the opponents to a school board collective bargaining ordinance had not shown that the school board "would not have enacted the constitutional portions, had it known that two restrictions would be found unconstitutional." One justice disagreed with this conclusion but nonetheless agreed with the placement and expression of the burden under a statutory severability clause, concluding "that the record establishes the 'clear probability' that the board 'would not have been satisfied ." Thus, our analysis begins with the understanding that the burden is on the challengers to show that the voters did not intend the remaining provisions to be given effect.
b. The remaining provisions of the initiative can be given legal effect.
The first part of the Lynden Transport test for severability, determining whether "legal effect can be given" to the remaining provisions of the statute, requires us to examine whether the severed statute requires action or if it is merely a statement of public policy. This is a relatively low threshold test that merely requires an enforceable command to implement the law. So, for instance, a statute reduced to the statement that English is the official language of the State of Alaska could not be given legal effect because it would be only a statement of public policy. On the other hand, a statute that required the use of English in all official public documents and records could be given legal effect since it would require action by government officials and employees.
As noted above the OEI must be redacted by severing the first sentence of AS 44,12.320. Thus limited, it would still require that English "be used in the prepara tion of all official public documents and records, including all documents officially compiled, published or recorded by the government." This mandate is consistent with the OEI's purpose of promoting English as the "common unifying language" of Alaskans. Moreover, it would require action on the part of "the legislative and executive branches of the State of Alaska and all political subdivisions," and it could be enforced through a private right of action. Contrary to the suggestion of the dissent, this court does not hold that severance "is justified because the . second sentence of section .820 . still serves a useful purpose." Rather, the redacted section imposes a substantial obligation on the part of state and local governments, and it reflects the complete scheme that several states have enacted to accomplish their purposes. The first part of the Lynden Transport test-if, "standing alone, legal effect can be given to" the provisions that remain after severance of an invalid provision -is clearly met here.
c. The voters intended the remaining parts of the statute to stand.
The second part of 'the Lynden Transport severability test asks whether the voters "intended the provision to stand" in the event that portions of it were struck down. As we noted in Sonneman v. Hickel, "[the key question is whether the portion remaining, once the offending portion of the statute is severed, is independent and complete in itself so that it may be presumed that the [voters] would have enacted the valid parts without the invalid part." We answer this question in the affirmative.
First, as discussed above, the initiative contains a severability section: "The provisions of [the act] are independent and severa-ble, and if any provision . shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder . shall not be affected and shall be given effect to the fullest extent practicable." In other words, the voters have told us that they did intend the remaining provision to stand in the event that por tions of the initiative were struck. We dealt with a similar provision in State v. Alaska Civil Liberties Union, where in reference to a severability clause built into a campaign financing reform act we stated: "The Act contains a severability clause. Its imelusion indicates that the legislature intended the remainder of the Act to stand if part of it were invalidated."
This conclusion is buoyed by our analysis of the overarching purposes of the initiative: unification of our diverse state. In attempting to make English the official language of the state of Alaska, the initiative proceeds on the assuniption that a common language is thought to exert a unifying foree. As the statement in support noted: "Like our flag, the pledge of allegiance, and our national anthem, English as our official language is our symbol. These symbols remind Americans and Alaskans of every race, religion, and background of what we all have in common." The initiative, as redacted, continues to reflect the voters' belief in the unifying force of a common language and their intent that provisions establishing a common language be upheld "to the fullest extent practl— cable."
Moreover, the voters had the benefit of the sponsors' statement in the election pamphlet, and it is clear that the sponsors of the initiative-who drafted the severability clause-favored preservation of the constitutional provisions of the initiative. Alaskans for a Common Language has filed a supplemental brief so indicating:
To the extent this court may now conclude that certain provisions, such as the first sentence of AS 41[44].12.820, might otherwise give rise to an unintended unconstitutional application of the act, ACL respectfully submits that both the Initiative itself and this Court's precedents require that any such provision should be severed. Such severance, rather than invalidation of the act, would give effect to the meaning of the Initiative as set forth in the Act and its stated purposes as adopted by the voters.
The intent and desire of the sponsors, is therefore clear. And apart from the voters' indication of intent in the severability clause, we do know that the initiative was well received. It passed with the approval of more than sixty-eight percent of the voters. It is difficult to construct an argument as to why a version of the initiative shorn of the unconstitutional provisions but still establishing English as the official language of the state and requiring that English be used in all official documents and records would be any less favorably received. The opponents of the initiative before this court have not attempted to make a case as to why this might be so. They have thus failed to meet their burden of showing, by a clear probability, that the voters would not have supported the initiative as redacted.
We conclude that the initiative is severa-ble, because (1) the remaining provisions can be given legal effect and (2) the voters intended that they be given effect. The requirement that the government use English in official documents can be given legal effect and is enforceable. Indeed, as noted, many official English acts in other states are limited to similar provisions. The initiative's challengers have not met their burden of showing the "clear probability" that severance was not intended by the voters. The presumption in favor of severability leads us to conclude that the voters intended that, if a court were to strike the first sentence of AS 44.12.8320, the second sentence of that section should stand.
E. The Remaining OEI Provisions Must Be Construed Narrowly.
In this opinion we have decided the constitutionality of the principle provision of the OEI, AS 44.12.320, striking the first sentence of that section but upholding the second sentence. Because the remaining provisions of the OEI relate to section .320, our holdings as to the constitutionality of that section have implications for the remainder of the OEI. Some provisions may be rendered superfluous or hortatory. Others may present similar constitutional concerns to the ones we thus far have considered. As such the parties may desire that we analyze and parse each line of the OEI in a search for a definitive constitutional ruling on each.
We are mindful, however, that the case comes to us as a facial challenge to the statute. In such cases it is our practice to reserve as many questions for as-applied challenges as possible, in keeping with the legislative policy stated in AS 01.10.0830:
Any law heretofore or hereafter enacted by the Alaska legislature which lacks a severability clause shall be construed as though it contained the clause in the following language: "If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or cireumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this Act and the application to other persons or cireumstances shall not be affected thereby."
This provision further animates our decision to sever the unconstitutional provision of the OEI rather than invalidate the entire act. We have consistently severed laws rather than invalidating them when construing this general severability clause. The presence of a specific severability provision in the OEI only strengthens our conclusion in this regard.
When we consider the facial invalidity of a statute, we require the party seeking to invalidate the statute to bear the burden of demonstrating the necessity of invalidation. Similarly, a party seeking to invalidate a statute in whole rather than in part bears the burden of demonstrating the unconstitutionality of the entire act. We do not believe that the appellees have met this burden as to the remainder of the OEI
We are further bolstered in our inclination not to consider each of the other sections of the OEI at this time by the state's apparent willingness to implement the OEI with clarifying regulations, including a regulation to clarify that the second sentence of AS 44.12.8320 does not prohibit oral communication between state employees and the public in languages other than English Any further consideration of the OEI we leave to as-applied challenges, confident that setting out the relevant interpretive principles in this opinion as a guide will assist the parties and the courts to resolve such challenges.
v. CONCLUSION
Because a portion of the Official English Initiative-the first sentence of AS 44.12.320-violates the federal and Alaska constitutional rights to free speech and to petition the government, we hold that the Official English Initiative is unconstitutional as enacted. Because, however, the unconstitutional provision is severable from the initiative, and the remainder of the section is capable of a constitutional construction, we uphold the constitutionality of the second sentence of AS 44.12.320. We find it unnee-essary at this time to consider in greater dépth other sections of the law, other than to note that, in the event of a future challenge, they must be construed narrowly if possible to avoid unconstitutionality. We thus AFFIRM in part, and REVERSE in part, the judgment of the superior court.
. 'The wording of the initiative summary was the subject of a 1998 lawsuit by ACL against then-Lieutenant Governor Fran Ulmer. See Alaskans for a Common Language, Inc. v. Kritz, 3 P.3d 906, 910 (Alaska 2000) (describing history of passage of OEI). Ulmer prevailed. Id. The quoted excerpt reflects in part the information provided to the voters at the time of the election.
. Auaska Const. art. XL, § 1. The law-making powers granted to the people are similar to those assigned to the legislature. See Araska Const art. XIL, § 11.
. Alaskans for a Common Language, Inc., 3 P.3d at 910.
. Id. at 910 & n. 8.
. Id. at 913-14.
. Id. at 916.
. Yniguez v. Arizonans for Official English, 69 F.3d 920, 936 (9th Cir.1995) (en banc), vacated as moot sub nom. Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 117 S.Ct. 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997).
. Alaska Const. art. I, § 5 provides: "Every person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right." The court also observed that the OEI would likely be found to violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, but determined it to be unnecessary to reach this issue in light of its decision that the initiative violated the rights guaranteed to elected officials under the Alaska Constitution.
. State, Dep't of Revenue v. Andrade, 23 P.3d 58, 65 (Alaska 2001).
. Alaska Gen. Alarm, Inc. v. Grinnell, 1 P.3d 98, 100 (Alaska 2000) (quoting Guin v. Ha, 591 P.2d 1281, 1284 n. 6 (Alaska 1979)).
. Sopko v. Dowell Schlumberger, Inc., 21 P.3d 1265, 1269 (Alaska 2001).
. Id. (quoting Wright v. State, 824 P.2d 718, 720 (Alaska 1992)).
. Id.
. Ala Const amend. 509; Ark.Code Ann. § 1-4-117 (1987); Cal. Const. art. II, § 6; Colo. Const. art. II, § 30a; Fla. Const. art II, § 9; Ga.Code Ann. § 50-3-100 (1996); Haw. Const. art. XV, § 4 (also designating Hawaiian as official language); 5 Ill. Come. Star. 460/20 (1991); Inp.Copz. § 1-2-10-1 (1984); Towa Cope Arm. § 1.18 (West 2002); KyRev.Star. Ann. § 2.013 (1984); Miss.Copz Ann § 3-3-31 (1987); Mo. Ann. Stat. § 1.028 (West 1999); Mownt.Cope. Aww. § 1-1-510 (1995); Nes. Const. Art. 1, § 27; NH.Rev.Star Ann § 3-C:1 (1995); N.C. Gen.Smr § 145-12 (1987) ND. CEnt.Copne § 54-02-13 (1987); S.C.Cope Ann. § 1-1-696 (1987); S.D. Coptrien Laws Ann. § 1-27-20 to 1-27-26 (1995); Tenm.Cope Ann. § 4-1-404 (1984); Urax Cope Ax. §'63—13—1.5 (2000); Va. CopE Ann. § 7.1-42 (1996); Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 8-6-101 (1996).
. See, eg., Ark.Code Ann. § 1-4-117 (1987); Inp. Cope § 1-2-10-1 (1984) KyRevSnar Amn. § 2.013 (1984); N.C. Gen.Smar § 145-12 (1987); ND. CentCops § 54-02-13 (1987); S$.C.Cope Ann. § 1-1-696 (1987).
. See, e.g., N.H.Rev.Smt. Amn. § 3-C:1 (1995); S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 1-27-20 (1995); Tenn. Cope Ann. § 4-1-404 (1984).
. See, e.g., Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 8-6-101 (1996).
. See Ariz. Const. art. XXVIII, This provision was struck down first by the Ninth Circuit, Yniguez v. Arizonans for Official English, 69 F.3d 920, 924 (9th Cir.1995) (en banc), vacated as moot sub nom. Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 117 S.Ct 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997), and then by the Arizona Supreme Court. Ruiz v. Hull, 191 Ariz. 441, 957 P.2d 984, 987 (1998).
. See In re Initiative Petition No. 366, 46 P.3d 123, 129-30 (Okla.2002) (text of proposed initia tive). The petition was invalidated by the Oklahoma Supreme Court prior to placement on the ballot because the court determined that the petition would be unable to survive a constitutional attack. Id. at 125.
. See Ariz. Const. art. XXVII; In re Initiative Petition No. 366, 46 P.3d at 129-30 (text of proposed initiative); AS 44.12.300-.390.
. Ruiz, 957 P.2d at 994 (quoting Michele Arington, Note, English Only Laws and Direct Legislation: The Battle in the States Over Language Minority Rights, 7 J.L. & Pol. 325, 337 (1991)).
. Id. at 997-98, 1002.
. Yniguez, 69 F.3d at 932 (quoting Ariz. Const. art. XXVIII, § 2).
. In re Initiative Petition No. 366, 46 P.3d at 129.
. Id. at 127.
. State, Dep't of Revenue v. Andrade, 23 P.3d 58, 71 (Alaska 2001) (quoting Kimoktoak v. State, 584 P.2d 25, 31 (Alaska 1978) (citations omitted) (explaining that "the legislature, like the courts, is pledged to support the state and federal constitutions and that the courts, therefore, should presume that the legislature sought to act within constitutional limits")).
. Id. (quoting Baxley v. State, 958 P.2d 422, 428 (Alaska 1998)).
. State v. Campbell, 536 P.2d 105, 111 (Alaska 1975), overruled on other grounds by Kimoktoak v. State, 584 P.2d 25, 31 (Alaska 1978); see also Gottschalk v. State, 575 P.2d 289, 296 (Alaska 1978) (to imply into statute what is not apparent on its face "would be stepping over the line of interpretation and engaging in legislation").
. See, e.g., Falcon v. Alaska Pub. Offices Comm'n, 570 P.2d 469, 472 n. 6 (to construe initiative passed by voters, court will look to published arguments for indication of voter intent) (citing State v. Lewis, 559 P.2d 630, 637-38 (Alaska 1977)).
. State v. Alex, 646 P.2d 203, 208 n. 4 (Alaska 1982) (discussing origin of Alaska's "sliding scale approach" to statutory interpretation, in which plain language of statute is considered in light of 'any accompanying indications of legislative intent).
. Beck v. Dep't of Transp. & Pub. Facilities, 837 P.2d 105, 117 (Alaska 1992). In addition, in situations in which "the legislative purpose can be ascertained with reasonable certainty, the maxims of construction . are secondary to the rule that a statute should be construed in light of its purpose." Id.
. Id. at 116-17.
. State v. Alaska State Employees Ass'n/AFSCME Local 52, 923 P.2d 18, 23 (Alaska 1996) (quoting Univ. of Alaska v. Geistauts, 666 P.2d 424, 428 n. 5 (Alaska 1983)).
. See Falcon, 570 P.2d at 472 n. 6 (citing Lewis, 559 P.2d at 637-38 (Alaska)).
. See Alaska State Employees Ass'n/AFSCME Local 52, 923 P.2d at 24 (refusing to accord weight to stated personal intentions of legislation sponsor that did not reflect content of law as enacted).
. Cf. Hickel v. Halford, 872 P.2d 171, 177-81 (Alaska 1994) (attempting to construe term "administrative proceeding" as used in amendment to Alaska Constitution by looking at language of provision, purpose of amendment, statement in support of amendment published in voter pamphlet, and language used in related statutory provisions}.
. Cf. Falcon, 570 P.2d at 472 n. 6.
. ACL objected to the language of the summary, arguing that it incorrectly presented the initiative's enumerated exceptions as exclusive, and that it did not explicitly indicate that the use of Native languages would be protected by the Native American Languages Act (NALA). See Alaskans for a Common Language v. Kritz, 3 P.3d 906, 909 (Alaska 2000). Lieutenant Governor Ulmer amended the language describing the exceptions, but her decision not to reference NALA was upheld by the superior court. Id. at 910.
. 191 Ariz. 441, 957 P.2d 984 (1998).
. Id. at 992.
. Unlike the OEI, the Arizona amendment applied to the judicial branch as well as the legislature and the executive. See Ariz Const. art. XXVII, § 1(3)(a)(i).
. Ariz. Const. art. XXVIII, § 1(2).
. Ariz Const. art. XXVII, § 1(3)(a)(iv).
. Ariz. Const. art. XXVIII, § 3(1) provides in relevant part:
Except as provided in subsection (2):
(a) This State and all political subdivisions of this State shall act in English and in no other language.
(c) No governmental document shall be valid, effective or enforceable unless it is in the English language.
. Ruiz v. Hull, 191 Ariz. 441, 957 P.2d 984, 992 (1998).
. Id. at 993.
. Id. (Emphases in original.)
. 46 P.3d 123 (Okla.2002).
. Id. at 127.
. Id.
. Id.
. State, Alaska Hous. Fin. Corp. v. Employees Ass'n/AFSCME Local 52, 923 P.2d 18, 23 (Alaska 1996).
. State, Dep't of Revenue v. Andrade, 23 P.3d 58, 71 (Alaska 2001).
. Bonjour v. Bonjour, 592 P.2d 1233, 1237 (Alaska 1979). As we observed in that case:
Statutes validly enacted by the legislature come to this court with a presumption of constitutionality. If constitutional issues are raised, we have a duty to construe the statute, where it is reasonable to do so, to avoid dangers of unconstitutionality. Larson v. State, 564 P.2d 365, 372 (Alaska 1977); Hoffman v. State, 404 P.2d 644, 646 (Alaska 1965). Where a narrow construction of a statute will avoid constitutional infirmity without doing violence to the manifest legislative intent, we will interpret the statute accordingly. Gottschalk v. State, 575 P.2d 289, 296 (Alaska 1978); State v. Campbell, 536 P.2d 105, 110-11 (Alaska 1975); State v. Martin, 532 P.2d 316, 321 (Alaska 1975). If a statute is susceptible of no reasonable construction avoiding constitutional problems, this court is under a duty to nullify the statute or, if possible, the particular provision found offensive to the constitution. Campbell, 536 P.2d at 110-11. The separation of powers doctrine prohibits us from enacting legislation or redrafting patently defective statutes. Id. at 111; Gottschalk, 575 P.2d at 296.
. Gottschalk, 575 P.2d at 296 (court cannot "step[] over the line of interpretation and en-gagle] in legislation").
. U.S. Const. amend. I.
. Araska Const. art. I, § 5.
. Araska Const. art. I, § 6.
. Vogler v. Miller, 651 P.2d 1, 3 (Alaska 1982).
. Messerli v. State, 626 P.2d 81, 83 (Alaska 1980).
. Legal Servs. Corp. v. Velazquez, 531 U.S. 533, 121 S.Ct. 1043, 149 L.Ed.2d 63 (2001); Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Wis. Sys. v. Southworth, 529 U.S. 217, 120 S.Ct. 1346, 146 L.Ed.2d 193 (2000); Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of the Univ. of Va., 515 U.S. 819, 115 S.Ct. 2510, 132 L.Ed.2d 700 (1995); Rust v. Sullivan, 500 U.S. 173, 111 S.Ct. 1759, 114 L.Ed.2d 233 (1991).
. E.g., Rosenberger, 515 U.S. at 832, 115 S.Ct. 2510 (citing Widmar v. Vincent, 454 U.S. 263, 276, 102 S.Ct. 269, 70 L.Ed.2d 440 (1981) and Rust, 500 U.S. at 194, 111 S.Ct. 1759).
. E.g., Rust, 500 U.S. at 193, 111 S.Ct. 1759 (upholding restriction on federal funding for family planning services).
. Southworth, 529 U.S. at 229, 120 S.Ct. 1346; Rosenberger, 515 U.S. at 833, 115 S.Ct. 2510.
. Keyishian v. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of State of New York, 385 U.S. 589, 603, 87 S.Ct. 675, 17 L.Ed.2d 629 (1967).
. AS 44.12.330.
. See, e.g., Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of the Univ. of Va., 515 U.S. 819, 115 S.Ct. 2510, 132 L.Ed.2d 700 (1995) (when government disburses funds to private entities to convey its message, it may regulate its own message, but governmental speech was not implicated by state university's decision to fund independent student newspa pers, so state could not refuse to fund newspaper with religious content); Rust v. Sullivan, 500 U.S. 173, 111 S.Ct. 1759, 114 L.Ed.2d 233 (1991) (federal government may prevent federally-funded family planning programs from discussing abortion with clients if government wishes to promote pregnancy prevention and childbirth as opposed to abortion}.
. Rust, 500 U.S. at 193, 111 S.Ct. 1759.
. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. of Wis. Sys. v. Southworth, 529 U.S. 217, 120 S.Ct. 1346, 146 L.Ed.2d 193 (2000).
. Rust, 500 U.S. at 193, 111 S.Ct. 1759.
. Legal Servs. Corp. v. Velazquez, 531 U.S. 533, 540-42, 121 S.Ct. 1043, 149 L.Ed.2d 63 (2001).
. This is especially true of local governments, because they are not merely mouthpieces of the state. See Alaska Const. art. X, § 1 (providing for maximum local self-government and liberal construction of powers of local government); Araska Const. art. X, § 11 (home rule borough may exercise all legislative powers not prohibited by law or by charter). While Alaska at one time adhered to the "local activity rule," in which the ordinance of a municipality could conceivably trump a state statute if the subject matter was traditionally considered one of purely local concern, see Municipality of Anchorage v. Repasky, 34 P.3d 302, 321 (Alaska 2001) (Bryner, J., dissenting); Chugach Elec. Assoc. v. City of Anchorage, 476 P.2d 115, 122 (Alaska 1970), even today, local ordinances that conflict with statutes will be upheld unless they are "substantially irreconcilable" with state law. Repasky, 34 P.3d at 321-22 (Bryner, J., dissenting). These principles indicate that while the state government is unquestionably superior, local governments often speak on their own behalf and are not merely "branch offices" that speak on behalf of the state when so ordered.
. First Nat'l Bank of Boston v. Bellotti, 435 U.S. 765, 783, 98 S.Ct. 1407, 55 L.Ed.2d 707 (1978). See also Va. State Bd. of Pharmacy v. Va. Citizens Consumer Council, Inc., 425 U.S. 748, 756, 96 S.Ct. 1817, 48 L.Ed.2d 346 (1976) ("where a [willing] speaker exists, the protection afforded is to the communication, to its source and to its recipients both").
. Stanley v. Georgia, 394 U.S. 557, 564, 89 S.Ct. 1243, 22 L.Ed.2d 542 (1969).
. Bd. of Educ., Island Trees Union Free Sch. Dist. No. 26 v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853, 867, 102 S.Ct. 2799, 73 L.Ed.2d 435 (1982) (emphasis in original).
. Yniguez v. Arizonans for Official English, 69 F.3d 920, 940-41 (9th Cir.1995) (en banc), vacated as moot sub nom. Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 117 S.Ct. 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997); Ruiz v. Hull, 191 Ariz. 441, 957 P.2d 984, 997 (1998); In re Initiative Petition No. 366, 46 P.3d 123, 127 (Okla.2002).
. Yniguez, 69 F.3d at 940-42; Ruiz, 957 P.2d at 997-98; Petition No. 366, 46 P.3d at 127-28.
. Ruiz, 957 P.2d at 997-98; Petition No. 366, 46 P.3d at 127-28.
. Yniguez, 69 F.3d at 936-37; Ruiz, 957 P.2d at 1002-03; Petition No. 366, 46 P.3d at 129.
. Yniguez, 69 F.3d at 936-37.
. U.S. Const. amend. I ("Congress shall make no law . abridging . the right of the people . to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."); Alaska Const art. I, § 6 ('The right of the people . to petition the government shall never be abridged.").
. A person has a right to hear speech only if there is a willing speaker. See Va. State Bd. of Pharmacy v. Va. Citizens Consumer Council, Inc., 425 U.S. 748, 756, 96 S.Ct. 1817, 48 L.Ed.2d 346 (1976).
. Id.
. For instance, Manuel Macedo, a middle school teacher, often communicates in Spanish with his students and their parents; James Gil-man, a citizen, receives information from state workers regarding benefit programs in Yupik; Leo and Ruthie Beaver receive information about their daughter's education from her teachers in Yup'ik; and Minnie Mark, a city coordinator/clerk for the City of Quinhagak, translates for city officials and members of the public doing business with the city both in individual encounters and during public meetings. Similarly, Peter Lockuk, Sr., a land planner for the City of Togiak, interacts with citizens in Yup'ik, and Kirk Kenrud, the supervisor of the city's Shop & Road Maintenance Department, explains repairs and prepares invoices for non-English-speaking citizens in Yup'ik.
. Numerous federal and state courts have addressed this issue and none has held that such a policy is constitutionally required. See, e.g., Toure v. U.S., 24 F.3d 444, 446 (2d Cir.1994); Soberal-Perez v. Heckler, 717 F.2d 36, 41-44 (2d Cir.1983); Frontera v. Sindell, 522 F.2d 1215, 1220 (6th Cir.1975); Carmona v. Sheffield, 475 F.2d 738, 739 (9th Cir.1973); Jara v. Mun. Court for the San Antonio Judicial Dist. of Los Angeles County, 21 Cal.3d 181, 145 Cal.Rptr. 847, 578 P.2d 94, 96-97 (1978); Guerrero v. Carleson, 9 Cal.3d 808, 109 Cal.Rptr. 201, 512 P.2d 833, 838-39 (1973).
. 69 F.3d 920, 957 (9th Cir.1995) (en banc) (Brunetti, J., concurring) {emphasis in original), vacated as moot sub nom. Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 117 S.Ct. 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997).
. 385 U.S. 116, 87 S.Ct. 339, 17 L.Ed.2d 235 (1966).
. Id. at 135-36, 87 S.Ct. 339.
. Id. at 136-37, 87 S.Ct. 339.
. Thoma v. Hickel, 947 P.2d 816, 821 (Alaska 1997) (Matthews, J. & Eastaugh, J., concurring) (governor entitled under First Amendment to respond to critical speech), 826 (Carpeneti, J., dissenting in part, with whom Rabinowitz, J., joined) (governor entitled under First Amendment to respond to critical speech, but not to access confidential public safety criminal database to gather information about critic).
. Yniguez v. Arizonans for Official English, 69 F.3d 920, 940-41 (9th Cir.1995] (en banc), vacated as moot sub nom. Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 117 S.Ct. 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997); Ruiz v. Hull, 191 Ariz. 441, 957 P.2d 984, 998 (1998).
. Alaska Const. art. II, § 6 provides that "(legislators may not be held to answer before any other tribunal for any statement made in the exercise of their legislative duties while the legislature is in session." This protects neither statements made while the legislature is not in session nor communications with constituents not immediately connected with legislation. See Schultz v. Sundberg, 759 F.2d 714, 717 (9th Cir.1985) (Alaska Constitution requires protected activity to (1) be integral part of committee or house proceedings and (2) address proposed legislation or some other topic within legislature's constitutional jurisdiction}.
. 385 U.S. 116, 135-36, 87 S.Ct. 339, 17 L.Ed.2d 235 (1966).
. See Thoma, 947 P.2d at 821, 826.
. 725 P.2d 695, 700 (Alaska 1986).
. 391 U.S. 563, 568, 88 S.Ct. 1731, 20 L.Ed.2d 811 (1968).
. State v. Haley, 687 P.2d 305, 311 (Alaska 1984) (quoting Pickering, 391 U.S. at 568, 88 S.Ct. 1731).
. Wickwire, 725 P.2d at 702 (citing Connick v. Myers, 461 U.S. 138, 147, 103 S.Ct. 1684, 75 L.Ed.2d 708 (1983)).
. This section provides that: the OEI "shall not be construed in any way that infringes upon the rights of persons to use languages other than English in activities or functions conducted solely in the private sector, and the government may not restrict the use of language other than English in such private activities or functions."
. City & Borough of Sitka v. Swanner, 649 P.2d 940, 943 (Alaska 1982) (construing Pickering, 391 U.S. at 568, 88 S.Ct. 1731).
. Id.
. 461 U.S. 138, 103 S.Ct. 1684, 75 L.Ed.2d 708 (1983).
. Id. at 154, 103 S.Ct. 1684.
. Wickwire v. State, 725 P.2d 695, 703 (Alaska 1986).
. Yniguez v. Arizonans for Official English, 69 F.3d 920, 924-25, 940 (9th Cir.1995) (en banc), vacated as moot sub nom. Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 117 S.Ct. 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997).
. Id. at 939-40.
. Id. at 940.
. We note that the dissent in Yniguez conceded that the English-only law in Arizona "makes it harder for many Arizonans to receive government services. A successful challenge might be raised by those whose ability to deal with their government is thereby impaired." Id. at 963 (Kozinski, J., dissenting).
. See, e.g., Marks v. City of Anchorage, 500 P.2d 644, 647 (Alaska 1972) (listing instances in which speech can be restricted on basis of circumstances involved and type of speech at issue, for example, fighting words, obscenity, and speech in courtroom while court is in session).
. Erwin Chemerinsky, Content Neutrality as a Central Problem of Freedom of Speech: Problems in the Supreme Court's Application, 74 So. Cal. L.Rev. 49, 55 (2000). See Turner Broadcast Sys., Inc. v. F.C.C., 512 U.S. 622, 642, 114 S.Ct. 2445, 129 L.Ed.2d 497 (1994)("At the heart of the First Amendment lies the principle that each person should decide for himself or herself the ideas and beliefs deserving expression, consideration and adherence." Consequently, "the First Amendment . does not countenance government control over the content of messages expressed by private individuals.") (citing R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, 505 U.S. 377, 382-83, 112 S.Ct. 2538, 120 L.Ed.2d 305 (1992)). See also Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 414, 109 S.Ct. 2533, 105 L.Ed.2d 342 (1989) ("Nor may the government, we have held, compel conduct that would evince respect for the flag. 'To sustain the compulsory flag salute we are required to say that a Bill of Rights which guards the individual's right to speak his own 'mind, left it open to public authorities to compel him to utter what is not in his mind.' "). (Citation omitted.)
. R.A.V., 505 U.S. at 382, 112 S.Ct. 2538.
. Vogler v. Miller, 651 P.2d 1, 5 (Alaska 1982). See also Capitol Square Review and Advisory Bd. v. Pinette, 515 U.S. 753, 761, 115 S.Ct. 2440, 132 L.Ed.2d 650 (1995) (reciting federal rule that state "may regulate expressive content only if such a restriction is necessary, and narrowly drawn, to serve a compelling state interest") (emphasis in original).
. Clark v. Comty. for Creative Non-Violence, 468 U.S. 288, 293, 104 S.Ct. 3065, 82 L.Ed.2d 221 (1984).
. See, e.g., Org. for a Better Austin v. Keefe, 402 U.S. 415, 419, 91 S.Ct. 1575, 29 L.Ed.2d 1 (1971).
. State v. Haley, 687 P.2d 305, 315 (Alaska 1984) (citing Emerson, The Doctrine of Prior Restraint, 20 Law & Contemp. Pross. at 648 (1955)).
. Id.
. U.S. v. Nat'l Treasury Employees Union, 513 U.S. 454, 467-68 & n. 11, 115 S.Ct. 1003, 130 L.Ed.2d 964 (1995); Haley, 687 P.2d at 315.
. Yniguez v. Arizonans for Official English, 69 F.3d 920, 936 (9th Cir.1995) (en banc), vacated as moot sub nom. Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 117 S.Ct 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997).
. See, e.g., Boos v. Barry, 485 U.S. 312, 108 S.Ct. 1157, 99 L.Ed.2d 333 (1988).
. See, e.g., U.S. v. Playboy Entm't Group, Inc., 529 U.S. 803, 120 S.Ct. 1878, 146 L.Ed.2d 865 (2000).
. Ruiz v. Hull, 191 Ariz. 441, 957 P.2d 984, 998 (1998).
. Id. at 999.
. Virginia v. Hicks, 539 U.S. 113, 119, 123 S.Ct. 2191, 156 L.Ed.2d 148 (2003).
. Ruiz, 957 P.2d at 999 (quoting 44 Liquormart, Inc. v. Rhode Island, 517 U.S. 484, 501, 116 S.Ct. 1495, 134 L.Ed.2d 711 (1996)).
. Police Dep't of Chicago v. Mosley, 408 U.S. 92, 101, 92 S.Ct. 2286, 33 L.Ed.2d 212 (1972) ("statutes affecting First Amendment interests [must be] narrowly tailored to their legitimate objectives"); cf. State, Dep't of Health & Soc. Servs. v. Planned Parenthood of Alaska, Inc., 28 P.3d 904, 909 (Alaska 2001) ("if 'the objective degree to which the challenged legislation tends to deter [exercise of constitutional rights]' is significant, the regulation cannot survive constitutional challenge unless it serves a compelling state interest") (citation omitted).
. Mosley, 408 U.S. at 101, 92 S.Ct. 2286; Planned Parenthood, 28 P.3d at 909.
. Because we characterize the OEI as a direct prohibition on speech, it is unnecessary to consider the question whether the law also acts as a prior restraint on speech. We note that the superior court did not reach this issue.
. Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306, 123 S.Ct. 2325, 156 L.Ed.2d 304 (2003).
. Ashcroft v. Am. Civil Liberties Union, 542 U.S. 656, 124 S.Ct. 2783, 159 L.Ed.2d 690 (2004).
. McConnell v. Fed. Election Comm'n, 540 U.S. 93, 124 S.Ct. 619, 157 L.Ed.2d 491 (2003).
. Treacy v. Municipality of Anchorage, 91 P.3d 252 (Alaska 2004).
. Larson v. Cooper, 90 P.3d 125 (Alaska 2004).
. State v. Alaska Civil Liberties Union, 978 P.2d 597 (Alaska 1999).
. See, e.g., Yniguez v. Arizonans for Official English, 69 F.3d 920, 923 (9th Cir.1995) (en banc), vacated as moot sub nom. Arizonans for Official English v. Arizona, 520 U.S. 43, 117 S.Ct. 1055, 137 L.Ed.2d 170 (1997).
. See, e.g., Ruiz v. Hull, 191 Ariz. 441, 957 P.2d 984, 990 (1998).
. Id.
. Id.
. See id. (discussing naturalization legislation, Equal Education Opportunity Act, and Immigration Reform and Control Act).
. Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306, 332, 123 S.Ct. 2325, 156 L.Ed.2d 304 (2003).
. AS 44.12.300.
. E.g., U.S. v. Playboy Entm't Group, Inc., 529 U.S. 803, 804, 120 S.Ct. 1878, 146 L.Ed.2d 865 (2000); State v. Alaska Civil Liberties Union, 978 P.2d 597, 603 (Alaska 1999).
. Grutter, 539 U.S. at 333, 123 S.Ct. 2325 (quoting Shaw v. Hunt, 517 U.S. 899, 908, 116 S.Ct. 1894, 135 L.Ed.2d 207 (1996)).
. AS 44.12.300.
. "Learning English empowers people to better jobs and to integrate into Alaskan society.... We need to help people learn English, not discourage them." Statement in Support of Ballot Measure No. 6.
. "[This bill will prevent the increased bureaucracy and costs due to offering documents and services in multiple languages.... By making English the official language, we make sure that Alaska will not end up like California, where they offer driver's license exams in 33 languages." Statement in Support of Ballot Measure No. 6.
. Amicus the Linguistic Society argues that many of those who are not proficient in English understand the advantages of learning English, and they participate in classes when they are available.
. 262 U.S. 390, 43 S.Ct. 625, 67 L.Ed. 1042 (1923).
. Id. at 403, 43 S.Ct. 625 (striking down state law prohibiting teaching of foreign languages). While the Court supported the law's goals of promoting "civic development" and ensuring that the English language should become the "mother tongue" of the state's citizens, it struck down the law as an unconstitutional means to achieve those goals. Id. at 400-03, 43 S.Ct. 625.
. Id. at 401, 43 S.Ct. 625.
. We were particularly concerned with the first sentence of AS 44.12.320, which states that "[the English language is the language to be used by all public agencies in all government functions and actions."
. McAlpine v. Univ. of Alaska, 762 P.2d 81, 94 (Alaska 1988).
. AS 44.12.390. See supra at 192-93.
. 532 P.2d 700, 713 (Alaska 1975).
. Id. at 702.
. Id. at 713 (quoting Dorchy v. Kansas, 264 U.S. 286, 290, 44 S.Ct. 323, 68 L.Ed. 686 (1924)).
. 762 P.2d 81, 94-95 (Alaska 1988).
. 84 P.3d 989 (Alaska 2004).
. McAlpine, 762 P.2d at 82. Alaska Action Center, 84 P.3d at 990.
. Alaska Action Center, 84 P.3d at 995 (quoting McAlpine, 762 P.2d at 94-95).
. There is, however, one slight modification of the Lynden Transport test that must be made in applying it to an approved initiative. Lynden Transport's second part asks whether, following severance, "the legislature intended the provision to stand." Lynden Transp., Inc. v. State, 532 P.2d 700, 713 (Alaska 1975). The McAlpine test asks whether, after the unconstitutional provision of an initiative is removed, it is evident that 'the sponsors and subscribers would prefer the measure to stand as altered, rather than to be invalidated in its entirety." McAlpine, 762 P.2d at 95. This question is appropriate for pre-election severance because the parties with a stake in an initiative prior to an election are the initiative's sponsors and subscribers. As McAlpine notes, direct democracy would be seriously impeded if sponsors and subscribers could not be confident that their proposals would go before the voters. Id. at 92-93. However, after an initiative is enacted, the relevant intent is that of the voters rather than the sponsors and/or subscribers. Thus, for the second prong of the Lyn-den Transport test, we will look to the intent of the voters to determine whether the severed statute can stand on its own.
. Santa Barbara Sch. Dist. v. Superior Court, 13 Cal.3d 315, 118 Cal.Rptr. 637, 530 P.2d 605, 618 n. 7 (1975).
. Parents Involved in Cmty. Schs. v. Seattle Sch. Dist., No. 1, 149 Wash.2d 660, 72 P.3d 151, 168 (2003); see also Portland Gen. Elec. Co. v. Bureau of Labor & Indus., 317 Or. 606, 859 P.2d 1143, 1145-47 & n. 4 (1993); Abrams v. United States, 531 A.2d 964, 971 (D.C.1987).
. The statute provides:
Severability. The provisions of AS 44.12.300-44.12.390 are independent and severable, and if any provision of AS 44.12.300-44.12.390, or the applicability of any provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of AS 44.12.300-44.12.390 shall not be affected and shall be given effect to the fullest extent practicable.
. 532 P.2d at 711-12.
165. Id. at 711-12 (quoting Carter v. Carter Coal Co., 298 U.S. 238, 312, 56 S.Ct. 855, 80 L.Ed. 1160 (1936)) (emphasis added in Lynden Transport).
. 590 P.2d 437 (Alaska 1979).
. Id. at 442.
. Id. at 443 n. 1 (Rabinowitz, J., dissenting).
. Lynden Transp., Inc. v. State, 532 P.2d 700, 713 (Alaska 1975).
. See McAlpine v. Univ. of Alaska, 762 P.2d 81, 94 (Alaska 1988) (initiatives must be used to enact laws, not statements of public policy).
. Id.
. The dissent finds fault with this severance, but its concerns are based on a misperception of what this court has done. The dissent mischar-acterizes this court's action as "rewrit[ing] section .320," (Dissent at 215) which leads to "a radically rewritten law' (Dissent at 217) with "a newly declared meaning." (Dissent at 216) In truth, the court simply strikes the first sentence of section .320 and gives to the second sentence of that section its plain meaning.
. AS 44.12.320.
. AS 44.12.330.
. AS 44.12.380.
. Dissent at 220.
. See, e.g., N.H.Rev.Stat, Anw. § 3-C:1 (1995); S.D. CopiriEp Laws Ann. § 1-27-20 (1995) ("[English] is designated as the language of any official public document or record and any official public meeting."); Tenm.Cope Ann. § 4-1-404 (1984) ("All communications and publications . produced by governmental entities in Tennessee shall be in English."); Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 8-6-101 (1996).
. Lynden Transp. Inc. v. State, 532 P.2d 700, 713 (Alaska 1975).
. The dissent utterly fails to address the first part of the Lynden Transport test. Instead, it faults the court for failing to focus on the initiative's original intent and purpose. (Dissent at 220) But as noted above, the redacted statute still serves the general purpose of the OEI: It promotes English as the "common unifying language" of Alaskans. The statute, by its own terms, states its purpose as "promoting, preserving and strengthening" the use of English in Alaska, AS 44.12.300, and there is no doubt that the redacted statute still serves this purpose and in so doing tends to promote English as the common language of the state.
The dissent argues that the court takes the second sentence of AS 44.12.320 out of context, suggesting that the court fails to consider whether its "interpretation [does] violence to the initiative's original intent and purpose." (Dissent at 220; see also id. at 222 n. 40). But this is clearly not so. The initiative intended to "promot[el, preserv{e] and strengthen[]" the use of the English language. AS 44.12.300. There can be no doubt that the severed statute, in requiring that English be used in all official public documents and records, serves these purposes.
Finally, the first part of the Lynden Transport test merely requires a court to determine if legal effect can be given to the remaining provisions. But the dissent, in adopting the challengers' view that the severed provision is "the centerpiece of the initiative," concludes that its deletion somehow impermissibly changes the meaning of what remains. (Dissent at 220) This analysis is wrong, for the remaining statute still promotes and strengthens the use of English in the state, and it goes far beyond the first part of the Lynden Transport test, which asks only whether the remaining provision can be given legal effect.
. Lynden Transp., 532 P.2d at 713.
. 836 P.2d 936, 941 (Alaska 1992).
. AS 44.12.390.
. In addition to the voters' adoption of a sever-ability clause in the initiative they enacted, Alaska law contains a general savings clause. Alaska Statute 01.10.030 provides:
Any law . enacted by the Alaska legislature which lacks a severability clause shall be construed as though it contained the- clause in the following language "If any provision of this Act . is held invalid, the remainder . shall not be affected thereby.
We have previously held that the existence of this general savings clause creates a weak presumption in favor of severability. Lynden Transp., 532 P.2d at 712. But the presumption of severability is stronger where, as here, the statute in question contains a severability clause. Id.
. 978 P.2d 597 (Alaska 1999).
. Id. at 633 (emphasis added).
. AS 44.12.390.
. See supra at n. 178 and accompanying text.
. See Lynden Transp., Inc. v. State, 532 P.2d 700, 713 (Alaska 1975).
. Indeed, the supplemental briefs of ACL and the state have assumed that we would decide the constitutionality of every section of the act.
. See, e.g., State v. Alaska Civil Liberties Union, 978 P.2d 597, 633 (Alaska 1999); State v. Kenaitze Indian Tribe, 894 P.2d 632, 639 (Alaska 1995); State v. Palmer, 882 P.2d 386, 388-89 (Alaska 1994); Sonneman v. Hickel, 836 P.2d 936, 940 (Alaska 1992); McAlpine v. Univ. of Alaska, 762 P.2d 81, 94-95 (Alaska 1988); Lynden Transp., Inc. v. State, 532 P.2d 700, 715 (Alaska 1975). We construe the OEI's specific severability clause in light of this general policy.
. AS 44.12.390.
. State, Dep't of Revenue v. Andrade, 23 P.3d 58, 71 (Alaska 2001) (citing Baxley v. State, 958 P.2d 422, 428 (Alaska 1998)).
. Lynden Transp., 532 P.2d at 711-12.
. In light of our discussion of the extent of the English-only requirement imposed by a redacted section .320, see supra at 197-98, and given that the current challenge is a facial one and thus there are limited facts before us, we do not believe that the appellees have established at this time that there is a "realistic danger" that sections .340(a)-(b) and .380 will chill the free exercise of speech. See City Council of Los Angeles v. Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. 789, 801, 104 S.Ct. 2118, 80 L.Ed.2d 772 (1984) (concluding there must be "realistic danger" statute will significantly compromise First Amendment protections of parties not before court to be facially challenged on overbreadth grounds).