To: Governor Henry McMaster, The South Carolina State House, and The South Carolina State Senate
Allow for a ballot initiative process in South Carolina
Currently, there is no ballot initiative process in South Carolina because the State Supreme Court has determined that Article 3, Section 1 of the South Carolina Constitution reserves exclusive legislative power in two branches of government. The relevant text of the South Carolina Constitution reads: "The legislative power of this State shall be vested in two distinct branches, the one to be styled the “Senate” and the other the “House of Representatives,” and both together the “General Assembly of the
State of South Carolina.”'
We call upon our legislators to amend Article 3, Section 1 of the South Carolina Constitution to allow for the explicit vesting of legislative power in a third branch as well, the people of the state of South Carolina who are currently disenfranchised from political issues that are of importance to them when legislators fail to propose and enact viable legislative reform on such issues.
State of South Carolina.”'
We call upon our legislators to amend Article 3, Section 1 of the South Carolina Constitution to allow for the explicit vesting of legislative power in a third branch as well, the people of the state of South Carolina who are currently disenfranchised from political issues that are of importance to them when legislators fail to propose and enact viable legislative reform on such issues.
Why is this important?
The people of the State of South Carolina are currently disenfranchised from political issues that are of importance to them when legislators fail to propose and enact legislative reform on such issues. "Direct democracy" as enshrined in Article 3, Section 1 of the South Carolina Constitution would vest legislative authority not only in the House and Senate but also with the people.