H 3821 Session 112 (1997-1998)
H 3821 Joint Resolution, By J. Smith, A.W. Byrd, Cobb-Hunter, J.H. Hodges,
Inabinett and Pinckney
Similar(S 74, H 3190)
A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS, BY ADDING SECTION
15 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 AND TO PROVIDE
THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY BY LAW PRESCRIBE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN
INITIATIVE PETITION IF THE ADDED REQUIREMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THIS
SECTION.
04/03/97 House Introduced and read first time HJ-21
04/03/97 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-21
A JOINT RESOLUTION
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, RELATING TO
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS, BY ADDING SECTION 15 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 AND TO PROVIDE THAT
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY BY LAW PRESCRIBE
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INITIATIVE
PETITION IF THE ADDED REQUIREMENTS ARE
CONSISTENT WITH THIS SECTION.
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. An 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. 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.
The General Assembly may by law provide additional requirements
for an initiative petition if the requirements are consistent with the
provisions of this section."
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 Section 15 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, and to provide that the
General Assembly may by law prescribe additional requirements for
an initiative petition if the added requirements are consistent with this
section?
Yes []
No []
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'."
-----XX----- |