Propositions
(Initiatives):
- Propositions (Initiatives): An electoral device by which citizens of a state can place proposed laws (and in some states proposed constitutional) amendments on the state ballot
- Examples are minimum wage increases in Washington
- Direct Proposition: Proposals that qualify go directly on the ballot
- Indirect Proposition: Submitted to the state legislature which must decide what the next action is. It may reject or amend or it may even go onto the ballot if the state legislature rejects it. But they can submit an competing proposal on the ballot along with the original.
Rules
Of A Proposition:
- Riled with the designated state official
- Reviewed for conformance with state legal requirements
- Given a formal title and brief summary for the inclusion on the ballot paper
- Circulated to gain the required number of signatures from registered voters
- Submitted to state officials for verification of signatures.
- Number of signatures required depends on the state. In Alaska it is 10% whilst in California it just 5% but 10% if it is a constitutional amendment.
- Once it gets onto the ballot paper, it must gain a majority.
- Of late, only half of propositions are approved.
Referendums:
- An electoral device by which voters effectively veto a bill passed by their state legislature.
- Major difference from an proposition is that the referendum follow something done by the state legislature already. In some states a referendum is required to pass a bill.
- 24 states go further than this and have a provision called a popular referendum, New Mexico does this.
- If the state legislature passes a law that voters do not approve of, they may gather signatures to demand referendum on the law. There is a 90-day period to do this in.
- Once enough signatures are gained, the new law appears on a ballot for a popular vote.
- Not in law until passed, if not passed then it is vetoed – a popular veto.
Recalls:
- An electoral device by which voters in a state can remove an elected official from office before their terms has expired.
- Seen as a direct form of impeachment
- 19 states have this feature, but it has only been used three times.
- The most recent one was in 2012 when Scott Walker in Wisconsin in which he beat his democrat opponent Tom Barrett by 53% to 46%.
- It was trigged by those opposing Walker's implementation of changes to state employee pension schemes.
- Clearly a device which increases democratic accountability not just at election time but at any time in the incumbents' term.
- Some see it as demeaning because voters have 'buyers regret' - changing one's mind after short-term dissatisfaction.
- If recalls happened frequently enough, it would destabilise the governing process
- Many believe that short of a crime, voters should live with the consequences of the votes they have case.
- Since 2012, recall efforts have been tried in Oregon, Arizona, Michigan, Alaska and Kansas but none have come to a vote.