S 0458 Joint Resolution, By S.S. Martschink, Courson, Matthews, T.H. Pope, 
M.T. Rose, J.V. Smith and Washington
 A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of South
 Carolina, 1895, by adding Section 15 in Article XVII so as to permit the
 enactment of Laws and Constitutional Amendments by initiative petition.

   01/10/91  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   01/10/91  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-8

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, BY ADDING SECTION 15 IN ARTICLE XVII SO AS TO PERMIT THE ENACTMENT OF LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS BY INITIATIVE PETITION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. It is proposed that Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 15. In addition to the provisions of Articles III and XVI of this Constitution, relating to the enactment of laws and constitutional amendments, there is reserved in the people the power to enact laws and constitutional amendments by means of initiative petition. Any initiative petition must contain a full and correct copy of the title and text of the proposed law or amendment and must be signed by not fewer than ten percent of the qualified electors eligible to vote at the last general election. A valid signature on an initiative petition must include the name, complete address, and precinct of the signer. A petition must be presented to the State Election Commission at least sixty days before a general election. If the commission determines that the petition conforms to the requirements of this section, it shall submit the proposed law or constitutional amendment to the qualified electors of this State at the next general election. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposed law or constitutional amendment vote in favor it is a law of this State or a part of this Constitution. The commission shall certify the results to the Code Commissioner who shall assign the law or constitutional amendment to an appropriate place in the Code of Laws or the Constitution."

SECTION 2. The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Shall Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding a new section so as to provide for the enactment of a law or constitutional amendment initiated by a petition signed by no fewer than ten percent of the qualified electors eligible to vote at the last general election followed by a majority vote in favor of the proposed law or constitutional amendment at the next general election?

Yes []

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word `No'."