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• ., asi�. s+r' ,r.�.: .0 . - � - • i • SUPREME COURT OF IIAWAII-12 • Opinion of the Court • • to recognize that our decision in Fasi,supra, has been eroded . - to the extent that it conflicts with article VII, section 2 of i . • State Constitution as it was amended and ratified in 1968. •. Even the appellants admit that charter provisions which now relate to a political.subdivisions executive, legislative ; and administrative structure and organization are entitled to . a status superior to a statute.•Thus, all the provisions of Maui's charter which were in effect on January 1, 1972 con- cerning the structure and organization of executive, legisla- k • ' i . tive and administrative matters in Maui County government took a different complexion under the provisions of article VII, section 2. Similarly, those revised charter provisions which were ratified at the 1976 election relating to govern- mental structure and organization of the county are also t j protected from legislative tampering. - • " R oral rule is that, if the words t he en a t a . th n �a re , aw [ ] are W er _ vision . are clear and unambigu constitutional provision , used in a P ous, they are to be construed as they are written."Spears v. • Honda, 5.1 Haw. 1, 6,449 P.2d 130; 134,reh.denied, 51 H.aw. 103 (1968). Therefore, in construing the term structure and organization.as used in the context of article VII, section 2 • we adhere to. the well. established rule that "[i]n the construction of a constitutional provision . . .the words of the constitution are presumed to be used in their natural • • sense . . . `unless the context furnishes some ground to control, qualify or enlarge [them]' "_' . State v. Anderson, 56 Haw. 566, 577, 545 P.2d 1175, ,1182 (1976). These words were explained in.LaFleur v. City of • 4. Baton Rouge, 124 So.2d 374. 378(La.App. 1960). as meaning . "supervision, control and internal arrangement of the cc►m- • ponent parts of the mechanism or instrumentality.through 1 which the power(ability)conferred is exercised in obedience to the function (duty) imposed.„. It was further held in that case at 378, that power means "ability or capacity . . . synonymous with inherent or basic authority to indulge in a particular undertaking or provide or perform a certain ser- • vice," and function means "duty in the sense that it is cotn • - plementary of the power (ability) conferred and, as such, is .1 s • .