DIRECT DEMOCRACY Flashcards
what are the 3 main forms of direct democracy
Ballot initiatives
Recall elections
referendums
What are ballot initiatives
Laws or measures are proposed by voters and if enough signatures are obtained, are placed on a ballot at election time, usually alongside local, state and national elections.
Example of a ballot initiative
In 2016 california - People were asked to vote on actors wearing condoms in porn and to make it illegal not too.
What are recall elections
Voters can force an elected state official such as a mayor or governor to have a re-election
Example of a recall election
In 2018 california- The governor Gray Davis had enough signatures against him for a re-election and was replaced by arnold schwarzenegger
when can referendums happen in us
Can occur where the state legislature passes a law but is then required to submit this directly to voters for approval
Example of a us referendum
In 2018 alabama where 78% of people voted for the first 10 amendments to be put up in court
can us referendums be national wide
No only at a state level
What is the most high-profile state that uses ballot initiatives
california
Why are ballot initiatives hard to do
Expensive and time consuming to collect the thousands of signatures needed
Therefore mostly interest groups and not citizens go for them
what was the uber ballot initiative
in california a ballot initiative was held over whether uber drivers should be classed as employees or not
arguments direct democracy works well in the US
Allows voters to have a say in framing laws
Allows variation in laws in states
Improves accountability of state officials between elections
Increases opportunities for political participation - especially for pressure groups
Arguments direct democracy doesn’t work well in the US
can lead to tyranny of the majority - making driving tests english only
Lead to inconsistencies and variation in laws between states
If often a political tactic used by losers
Ordinary voters may not understand what they are voting for
How do parties use ballot initiatives and why
Use them to attract votes for their party
2018 north dakota - democrats used ballot initiative to legalise weed to attract young voters to vote for incumbent democrat senator
