Opinion ID: 3134059
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: This Court applies a deferential standard of review to the validity of a citizen initiative petition. In re Advisory Op. to the Att’y Gen. re Use of Marijuana for Certain Med. Conditions, 132 So. 3d 786, 794 (Fla. 2014). We are reluctant to interfere with Florida citizens’ right to formulate “their own organic law” by selfdetermination. Id. (quoting Advisory Op. to Att’y Gen. re Right to Treatment & Rehab. for Non-Violent Drug Offenses, 818 So. 2d 491, 494 (Fla. 2002)). Thus, we abide by the principle that “[s]overeignty resides in the people and the electors have a right to approve or reject a proposed amendment to the organic law of this State, limited only by those instances where there is an entire failure to comply with a plain and essential requirement.” Id. (quoting Pope v. Gray, 104 So. 2d 841, 842 (Fla. 1958)). As noted earlier, in determining the validity of an amendment to the constitution arising from a citizen’s initiative, this Court examines two requirements: (1) the ballot title and summary must satisfy the requirements of section 101.161(1), Florida Statutes; and (2) the proposed amendment must satisfy the single-subject requirement of article XI, section 3, of the Florida Constitution. Use of Marijuana for Certain Med. Conditions, 132 So. 3d at 795. As this Court has stated: In addressing these two issues, our inquiry is governed by several general principles. First, we do not consider or address the -7- merits or wisdom of the proposed amendment. Second, “[t]he Court must act with extreme care, caution, and restraint before it removes a constitutional amendment from the vote of the people.” Specifically, where citizen initiatives are concerned, “[the] Court has no authority to inject itself in the process, unless the laws governing the process have been ‘clearly and conclusively’ violated.” Hence, our review is narrow and limited to the two questions set out above. In re Advisory Op. to the Att’y Gen. re Fairness Initiative Requiring Legislative Determination that Sales Tax Exemptions & Exclusions Serve a Pub. Purpose, 880 So. 2d 630, 633 (Fla. 2004) (citations omitted). Thus, without considering or addressing the merits or wisdom of the proposed amendment, we turn first to determine if the amendment meets the single-subject requirement of article XI, section 3, of the Florida Constitution.