Current Status Bill Number:3821 Type of Legislation:Joint Resolution JR Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19970403 Primary Sponsor:J. Smith All Sponsors:J. Smith, Cobb-Hunter, Byrd, Hodges, Inabinett and Pinckney Drafted Document Number:egm\18542djc.97 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Initiative petition, enactment of constitutional amendments by; Elections
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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House 19970403 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ
referred to Committee
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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?
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'."