I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4499 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 21, 2010 Mr. Hoekstra introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide that the voters of the United States be given the right, through advisory voter initiative, to propose the enactment and repeal of Federal laws in a national election.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Advisory Voter Initiative Act of 2010.

2.

Rights of the people

The people shall have the right— (1)to propose any law which the Congress has authority to pass; and (2)to propose the repeal of any provision of law passed by the Congress which has become law.

3.

Petition procedure

A petition proposing the enactment of a law, or the repeal of a provision of law, shall be submitted to an officer of the United States whom the Congress shall designate by law. Each petition shall contain the text of the proposed law, or, in the case of a repeal, the text of the provision of law proposed to be repealed. Each petition shall be signed by at least 3 percent of the whole number of people, in each of at least 10 States, who voted in the last presidential election before the date on which the petition is submitted. The total number of signatures on such petition shall be at least 3 percent of the whole number of people, from all of the several States, who voted in that election. All signatures shall be collected during the 18-month period ending on the date on which the petition is submitted.

4.

Ballot procedure

Not later than 90 days after a petition is submitted under section 3, the officer to whom the petition is submitted shall determine the validity of the signatures on the petition. If the petition contains the required number of valid signatures, the officer shall certify the petition and shall direct the chief executive officer of each State to place a copy of the proposed law, or provision of law proposed to be repealed on the ballot in the first House of Representatives election (other than an election to fill a vacancy) which is held at least 120 days after such certification. The Congress shall by law— (1)establish procedures for the preparation and submission of petitions and for the validation of petition signatures; and (2)prescribe the manner in which the results of the voting conducted under this Act shall be ascertained and declared.

5.

Congressional action

If a law or repeal proposed under this Act receives a majority of the votes cast in 3/5 of the several States, the proposed law or repeal shall be introduced in the House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and in the Senate by the President pro tempore of the Senate on the first day of the first session of the Congress following the vote.

6.

Voter qualifications

The people in each State voting under this Act shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature.