Proposes constitutional amendment to provide for Statewide initiative and referendum.
Should SCR111 be adopted, it will amend the State Constitution to include provisions for indirect initiatives and referendums. This will allow citizens to collect signatures to propose changes in law or amendments to the Constitution. Specifically, a petition for a constitutional amendment requires signatures from at least 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, while 6% of the votes is needed for proposing a law. Additionally, the proposed amendment mandates a structured response from the Legislature, which must act on the proposals within two months.
SCR111 is a proposed constitutional amendment from the 220th Legislature of New Jersey, which seeks to establish a Statewide initiative and referendum process. The amendment aims to grant the people of New Jersey the authority to propose constitutional amendments or new laws and vote on these proposals, should the Legislature fail to act within a set timeframe. This initiative is designed to enhance public participation in the legislative process and empower citizens to have a direct say in state governance.
Opponents of SCR111 may be concerned about the implications on local governance, fearing that this process could undermine the existing legislative framework and increase the chances of popular or populist measures that might not be in the best interest of the greater public good. Furthermore, the amendment specifies exclusions on issues related to the siting of facilities in specific regions, which may raise debates about local autonomy and the ability of municipalities to self-govern and respond to their unique challenges.