Opinion ID: 2382905
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the holding of the concurring opinion

Text: The concurring opinion joins in the result of the majority opinion. The basis of the concurring opinion is that the text of the proposed amendment is so long and so detailed that it is like legislation. While I can clearly understand the proposition and have some sympathy for it, I cannot agree with it. The opinion should not be followed for a number of reasons. First, the petitioners have not made such an argument. The issue has not been briefed by either of the parties. Neither party discussed the length of the text. Our judicial system is based on the adversarial process, and judges are dependent in a great part on attorneys developing each side of an issue. Because of this American tradition, courts do not usually strike off on their own and decide cases on grounds not argued. Without question, an important issue such as this should not be decided without arguments on both sides. Second, the reasoning of the concurring opinion, as well as the majority opinion, will bring about a paradoxical result. Ballot titles are required for measures initiated by the public, but they are not required for measures submitted to the public by the general assembly. Becker v. Riviere, 277 Ark. 252, 641 S.W.2d 2 (1982). Under the reasoning employed in both the concurring majority opinions, the public cannot propose lengthy and complex matters for adoption, while the general assembly can so do. Such a result is directly in conflict with the purposes of Amendment 7, which reserves to the people the power to enact any proposal that the general assembly might enact. Arguments can be made that Amendment 7 was rashly adopted by the people. The fact that the Constitution of the United States contains no such provision supports the argument that such a process could allow the majority to become a tyranny over the minority. But those arguments are immaterial to the issue before us. The people have in fact adopted Amendment 7, and it gives the people an unlimited right to the initiative process. That right should be taken away only by a vote of the people.