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    The legislature has passed multiple resolutions to restrict the initiated measure process, what are your views on this issue? 


    Article III of the North Dakota constitution is titled "Powers Reserved to the People" (read it here: https://www.legis.nd.gov/constit/a03.pdf).  

    It states: "​This article is self-executing and all of its provisions are mandatory. Laws may be enacted to facilitate and safeguard, but not to hamper, restrict, or impair these powers."

    ​

    During the 2019 legislative session, resolutions doing the following have been passed:

    1. Granting the legislature a veto power once the public has voted yes.
    (SCR 4001)

    2. Increasing the required vote total from simple majority (50%+1) to 60%.
    (HCR 3010 & SCR 4015)

    3. Requiring that measures be submitted to the Secretary of State 240 days prior to the election instead of the current 120 days.
    (SCR 4015)

    4.  Increase the signatures needed from 4% of the population to 8% of the population.  That means increasing the number of signatures from 27,000 to 54,000.
    (SCR 4015)

    The North Dakota Watchdog Network is currently seeking support for its own constitution amendment stating the following:

    Any amendments to Article III of this constitution shall originate only from the petitioning power granted by this article to the citizens and residents of North Dakota. Any statutory changes affecting the Powers Reserved to the People by Article III of this constitution shall be effective only upon a vote and simple majority approval of the people. This section shall supersede Article IV Section 16 only as it relates to Article III; the legislative assembly’s ability to propose amendments to other areas of this constitution shall not be limited by this section.
    ​

    Please provide your information if you would like to help with this initiated measure.  
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