State v. City of Portsmouth

The Portsmouth City Charter provides:

“SECTION 20. POWER OF REFERENDUM.

“The electors shall have power to approve or reject at the polls any ordinance passed by the Council, or submitted by the Council to a vote of the electors, except an appropriation ordinance, such power being known as the referendum. * * *

“SECTION 21. REFERENDUM PETITION.

“Within thirty days after the final passage by the Council of an ordinance which is subject to referendum, a petition signed by the electors of the City equal in number to at least ten per centum (10%) of those who voted at the last preceding regular…