§ 1.   Legislative power--Initiative and referendum. The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a Legislature which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives. However, the people expressly reserve to themselves the right to propose measures, which shall be submitted to a vote of the electors of the state, and also the right to require that any laws which the Legislature may have enacted shall be submitted to a vote of the electors of the state before going into effect, except such laws as may be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, support of the state government and its existing public institutions. Not more than five percent of the qualified electors of the state shall be required to invoke either the initiative or the referendum.
     This section shall not be construed so as to deprive the Legislature or any member thereof of the right to propose any measure. The veto power of the Executive shall not be exercised as to measures referred to a vote of the people. This section shall apply to municipalities. The enacting clause of all laws approved by vote of the electors of the state shall be: "Be it enacted by the people of South Dakota." The Legislature shall make suitable provisions for carrying into effect the provisions of this section.

History: Amendment proposed by SL 1897, ch 39, approved Nov. 8, 1898; amendment proposed by SL 1913, ch 132, rejected Nov. 3, 1914; amendment proposed by SL 1921, ch 146, rejected Nov., 1922; amendment proposed by SL 1969, ch 242, rejected Nov. 3, 1970; amendment proposed by SL 1974, ch 1, rejected Nov. 5, 1974; amendment proposed by SL 1975, ch 2, as amended by SL 1976, ch 1, rejected Nov. 2, 1976; amendments proposed by SL 1980, chs 2 and 3, rejected Nov. 4, 1980; amendment proposed by SL 1987, ch 1, approved November 8, 1988.