U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 11: State and Local Government and Public Policy
11.2 Direct Democracy in the States
Notes
Many states let voters make decisions directly, a reform spread by the Progressive Era (around 1900 to 1920).
- Initiative: citizens gather a required number of signatures to put a proposed law or constitutional amendment on the ballot for voters to decide.
- Referendum: a law passed by the legislature is sent to voters for approval or rejection. Some states require referendums for constitutional changes or borrowing.
- Recall: voters remove an elected official before the end of a term through a special election, after a petition drive.
- These tools exist in some states but not at the national level; the U.S. Constitution has no national initiative, referendum or recall.
- Supporters say they increase participation; critics say ballot measures can be confusing and heavily influenced by money.
Practice
Citizens collect enough signatures to put a new law on the state ballot. This is a(n):
An initiative starts with citizens, not the legislature.
Voters sign petitions and then vote in a special election to remove their governor before the term ends. This is a:
A recall lets voters remove an official early.
The state legislature passes a bond measure, and it must be approved by voters before it takes effect. This is a:
A referendum sends a legislative measure to voters.
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