US Direct Democracy

Gray Davis

California governor who was removed b voters in 2003

Lynn Frazier

North Dakota governor who was removed by voters in 1921

Tom Barrett

Wisconsin mayor who was removed by voters in 2012

proposition

also known as initiatives, these are a process by which citizens can bypass state legislature by proposing laws and, in some states, constitutional amendments to go on the ballot. as of 4 june 2018, there have been 106 ballot measures certified for the 2018 ballot in 30 states. examples of these include marijuana legalisation, which was approved by California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada.

recall election

an electoral device by which voters can remove an elected official from office before their term has expired. this is seen as a direct form of impeachment. nineteen states allow this and it has occurred three times so far: in 1921, 2003 and 2012.

referendum

an electoral device by which voters can veto a bill passed by their state legislature. this is available in all states, and unlike propositions, citizens do not take initiative: these are done in response to officials' actions in 2012, 115 of these got onto the ballot

requirements for a proposition

must be: filed with a designated state official reviewed for conformance to state legal requirements given formal title and summary for ballot paper gets required signatures (this is usually a percentage of votes cast for a state-wide office)

direct democracy

political decision-making is done by citizens and not their directly elected state representatives.

indirect initiatives

qualifying proposals are submitted to the state legislature which decides what happens next

direct initatives

qualifying proposals go directly on the ballot

popular referendum

this is when citizens can demand a referendum on a law they do not approve of. this is done by 24 states. examples include Alaska and New Mexico. the citizens' petition must take place 90 days after the law is passed.