Initiative; referendum; signatures; legislative districts
The amendment seeks to empower citizens by allowing ten percent of qualified electors to propose statewide measures and fifteen percent to propose constitutional amendments within each legislative district. Furthermore, it establishes guidelines for how initiatives and referenda are to be filed, with mandates for signatures and verification, promoting transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The amendment emphasizes the importance of voters’ voices in legislative matters, potentially altering the relationship between the legislature and the electorate.
HCR2014 is a concurrent resolution introduced in the Arizona House of Representatives aiming to amend Article IV, Part 1, Section 1 of the Arizona Constitution. The proposed amendment intends to solidify the power of the people to propose laws and constitutional amendments, ensuring that they can enact or reject such proposals independently from the legislature. Notably, the bill specifies the percentage of qualified electors required from each legislative district to propose statewide measures and amendments, reinforcing the significance of voter participation in shaping state laws.
While HCR2014 aims to enhance democratic participation, points of contention may arise regarding the legislative authority's limits. The proposal states that initiated measures cannot be repealed or amended by the legislature without stringent requirements, setting a high bar for conflict resolution between legislative actions and voter-approved measures. This could lead to debates on the balance of power between elected officials and the public, particularly concerning local government autonomy and the scope of state laws.
Key provisions of HCR2014 include stipulated filing times for initiative and referendum petitions, conditions for emergency measures, and rules regarding the effective date of newly passed initiatives or referenda. It requires that, upon approval by a majority vote, such measures immediately become law, emphasizing the electorate's decisive role. Moreover, the bill declares that the legislative power to submit measures to the people remains intact, maintaining a dual mechanism of governance that allows for both representative and direct democracy.