Michigan & Wisconsin! Can they use the initiative process?

[jacquelope]

Can the citizens use the intiative process to forever preserve union rights and outlaw the use of city managers or whatever to override elected officials?

Has someone thought of this and found that it won't work?

I think such initiatives would have overwhelming support, would they not?

[Teaser]

1. I hope so because

cons have used initiatives to attack us for the last 40 years.

[jacquelope]

3. So we use it to hit them right back! n/t

.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Depends on the state constitution

[happyslug]

4. From my reading of the Wisconsin Constitution, no initiative are permitted

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/rsb/unannotated_wisconst.pdf

But Michigan does permit initiative:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/constitution.pdf

[jacquelope]

5. So why isn't anyone suggesting an initiative in Michigan?

How do we peons on the DU reach people over there to inspire them to take action? Or am I just shouting into the wind?

[happyslug]

6. Michigan is called an "Indirect System":

http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16600

An indirect system permits the Legislature to propose an alternative system

The Actual State Constitutional provisions:


§ 9 Initiative and referendum; limitations; appropriations; petitions.
Sec. 9. The people reserve to themselves the power to propose laws and to enact and reject
laws, called the initiative, and the power to approve or reject laws enacted by the legislature,
called the referendum. The power of initiative extends only to laws which the legislature may
enact under this constitution. The power of referendum does not extend to acts making
appropriations for state institutions or to meet deficiencies in state funds and must be invoked
in the manner prescribed by law within 90 days following the final adjournment of the
legislative session at which the law was enacted. To invoke the initiative or referendum,
petitions signed by a number of registered electors, not less than eight percent for initiative
and five percent for referendum of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor at the last
preceding general election at which a governor was elected shall be required.
Referendum, approval.

No law as to which the power of referendum properly has been invoked shall be effective
thereafter unless approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon at the next general
election.

7 ELECTIONS Art. II, §9
Initiative; duty of legislature, referendum.
Any law proposed by initiative petition shall be either enacted or rejected by the legislature
without change or amendment within 40 session days from the time such petition is received
by the legislature. If any law proposed by such petition shall be enacted by the legislature it
shall be subject to referendum, as hereinafter provided.

Legislative rejection of initiated measure;different measure; submission to people.

If the law so proposed is not enacted by the legislature within the 40 days, the state officer
authorized by law shall submit such proposed law to the people for approval or rejection at the
next general election. The legislature may reject any measure so proposed by initiative petition
and propose a different measure upon the same subject by a yea and nay vote upon separate
roll calls, and in such event both measures shall be submitted by such state officer to the
electors for approval or rejection at the next general election.

Initiative or referendum law;effective date, veto, amendment and repeal.

Any law submitted to the people by either initiative or referendum petition and approved by
a majority of the votes cast thereon at any election shall take effect 10 days after the date of the
official declaration of the vote. No law initiated or adopted by the people shall be subject to the
veto power of the governor, and no law adopted by the people at the polls under the initiative
provisions of this section shall be amended or repealed, except by a vote of the electors unless
otherwise provided in the initiative measure or by three-fourths of the members elected to and
serving in each house of the legislature. Laws approved by the people under the referendum
provision of this section may be amended by the legislature at any subsequent session thereof.
If two or more measures approved by the electors at the same election conflict, that receiving
the highest affirmative vote shall prevail.

Legislative implementation.

The legislature shall implement the provisions of this section.
History: Const. 1963, Art. II, §9, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964.

[jacquelope]

9. That sounds suck-y...

The power of referendum does not extend to acts making
appropriations for state institutions or to meet deficiencies in state funds"

Woah, can someone translate that for me? That doesn't look good.

[Doctor_J]

7. You mean try to undo this law 2 years from now?

Jeezus H Christ on a bike. Any area that might vote Dem will be under lockdown in 2 years.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. The only process that always works is the SLP.

Shoe Leather Process



but I've heard whispers about the Axe Handle Processs.*





*For entertainment purposes only