Who is responsible for checking the legality of initiatives?

New Zealand

Answer

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Source

Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993

( Enacted on 28 September 1993)

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1993/0101/latest/DLM317193.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_citizens_resel_25_h&p=1

Article 7.

(3)Where a proposal relates to an indicative referendum petition that wouldcontravene section 4, theClerk of the House of Representatives shall not publish, undersubsection (1), notice of the receipt of that proposal.

Comment

According to article 7(3) of theCitizen Initiated Referenda Act 1993, the check on legality by the Clerk of theHouse of Representatives occurs prior to the publishing of the referendumproposal. If the proposal does not meet the legal criteria for a citizeninitiated referenda, it will not be published in the Gazette.