State v. Trust the People

OPINION

CARPENETI, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Because of the need for resolution of the issues raised in this case before the election, we issued our Order on August 20, 2004, with an opinion to follow. This is that opinion. 1

A citizens’ group obtained sufficient signatures to place on the November 2004 ballot an initiative restricting the governor’s power to temporarily appoint a United States senator. This case concerned whether the initiative should go before the voters.

The Alaska Constitution provides that if the legislature enacts legislation that is “substantially the same” as a proposed…