Direct Democracy Flashcards
Define the term ‘proposition.’
A mechanism, commonly known as an initiative, by which citizens of a state can - after obtaining a predetermined no. of statewide signatures - propose laws and, in some states, constitutional amendments on the state* ballot in a future election.
(*remember, the fed gov’t does not employ the use of direct democracy!!)
The first state to adopt the use of propositions was _ in __. Since then __ other states have included this process in their individual state constitutions, the most recent being __ in __.
The first state to adopt the use of propositions was SOUTH DAKOTA in 1898. Since then, 23 other states have included this process in their individual state constitutions, the most recent being MISSISSIPPI in 1992.
There are two different types of proposition: __ and __..
Distinguish between them.
Direct and indirect.
Direct: proposals that qualify (i.e. obtain the predetermined level of state-wide signatures required) go directly on the upcoming election ballot.
Indirect: proposals that qualify are submitted to the state’s legislature, where they could potentially (depending on what the state allows) put a competing proposal on the ballot paper on top of the original one.
As well as being circulated across the state in order to gain the required no. of signatures from registered voters, what other formal process must be carried out when a proposition is in the process of getting on to the ballot paper?
It needs to be reviewed by state officials to ensure that it conforms w/ state legal requirements.
In the 2016 election, there were __ propositions initiated by Californian citizens on the ballot paper.
An example of a successful one was…
An example of an unsuccessful one was…
15!*
Successful: legalisation of recreational marijuana.
Unsuccessful: the abolishment of the death penalty.
(*there were 17 in total, but 2 of them were initiated by the state legislature rather than the people).
State 5 advantages of the use of propositions.
- It provides a way of enacting reforms on controversial issues that politicians do not want to discuss (e.g. campaign finance reform and term limits).
- They can increase the accountability and responsiveness of state legislators as without them, legislators may rely on a single coalition of voters to get elected (i.e they may appeal solely to the most populous demographic in their district) and ignore the wishes of the rest (as - without propositions - they have no way of exerting direct influence)
- They may help to increase turnout for elections as propositions appear on the same ballot paper as the candidates for the Presidency/state offices etc. and so a voter who only turned up to vote in a proposition may also - whilst they have made the effort to get to the polling booth - vote for elected officials.
- Linked to the above point is the argument that propositions increase general political interest as they enable and incentivise pressure groups to exert direct influence on elected officials (and so therefore group membership may increase).
- Without propositions, it is difficult to quantify the amount of support for each individual policy as politicians’ mandates tend to be quite broad in scope; e.g. a typical Republican governor elected with support from 45% of the state’s VAP does not necessarily imply that 45% of the VAP are simultaneously pro free-market, pro-life, anti gun control, anti same-sex marriage etc.
Summary:
- Allows reforms on controversial topics
- Increases accountability/responsiveness
- Increases turnout
- Increases political interest
- Enables the measurement of support for specific issues
State 2 disadvantages of propositions (for one of them, state an example).
- They lack flexibility in the legislative process; many state legislatures are barred from altering successful propositions via the legislative process (like how bills are normally passed), presumably in an attempt to ensure the peoples’ voices are heard.
- Propositions allow wealthy interest groups to dominate, which some argue is detrimental for a healthy democracy as it limits the extent to which some actors can participate politically. (e.g, according to Ballotpedia, campaigners who wanted the Californian marijuana proposition to pass spent more that $20 million more than campaigners who wanted it to not pass).
A referendum is an electoral device that is available __ __ __ __ which act can act as a ‘__ __’ against the state govt’s actions.
These are similar to propositions as…
These differ from propositions as…
A referendum is an electoral device that is available IN ALL 50 STATES which act can act as a ‘POPULAR VETO’ against the state govt’s actions.
These are similar to propositions as THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY PUBLIC VOTES ON CERTAIN ISSUES OFTEN FRAMED IN A ‘YES/NO’ FORMAT.
This differs from propositions as REFERENDA ARE PUBLIC VOTES ON LAWS ALREADY INITIATED BY THE STATE, NOT THE PEOPLE.
The extent to which referenda are employed varies across the states as it is a matter determined by state law; for example, some states require that there is a referendum before the __ __ is changed. Other are required to use these when the gov’t wants to change __ __.
__ states go further and have a provision called ‘__ __.’ These permit the public to…
The extent to which referenda are employed varies across the states as it is a matter determined by state law; for example, some states require that there is a referendum before the STATE’S CONSTITUTION is changed. Other are required to use these when the gov’t wants to change STATE TAX.
24 states go further and have a provision called ‘POPULAR REFERENDUM.’ These permit the public to INVALIDATE A RECENTLY PASSED LAW BY FIRST GATHERING A PREDETERMINED NO. OF SIGNATURES TO TRIGGER A POPULAR VOTE, THE RESULT OF WHICH DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT THE LAW WILL BE INVALIDATED.’
Recall elections enable…
Recall elections for elected officials at state level are used by __ states.
Recall elections enable VOTERS TO REMOVE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM OFFICE BEFORE HIS/HER TERM ENDS AND REPLACE THEM WITH ANOTHER CANDIDATE.
Recall elections for elected officials at state level are used by 19 states.
An example of a high-profile recall election was the recall of __ __ (governor of __), who…
The recall election was triggered by the state’s population due to the fact that the aforementioned state does not demand that their are… …and thus the election was due to the governor’s…
This illustrates two negatives of the use of recall elections (and direct democracy in general);…
There have been 3 recall elections for state governors, the most recent being the recall of SCOTT WALKER (governor of WISCONSIN), who ENDED UP DEFEATING HIS OPPONENT AND THUS RETAINED GOVERNORSHIP OF WISCONSIN.
The recall election was triggered by the state’s population due to the fact that the aforementioned state does not demand that their are ANY GROUNDS REQUIRED FOR A RECALL ELECTION TO BE TRIGGERED and thus the election was due to the governor’s POLICIES ON REDUCING THE POWER OF TRADE UNIONS (RATHER THAN THINGS LIKE MALPRACTICE).
This illustrates two negatives of the use of recall elections (and direct democracy in general); THESE MECHANISMS PREVENT ‘JOINED-UP GOV’T,’ THAT IS THEY PREVENT A GOV’T FROM CO-ORDINATING POLICIES ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AS DIRECT DEMOCRACY FOCUSES ON ISSUES IN ISOLATION FROM OTHER ISSUES; THEY ALSO PREVENT POLITICIANS FROM IMPLEMENTING UNPOPULAR, BUT NECESSARY POLICIES.
- > THE OVERARCHING THEME OF THIS ARGUMENT IS THAT DIRECT DEMOCRACY IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE BURKEAN MODEL OF REPRESENTATION, THAT IS, THE THEORY THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE IMPORTANT DECISIONS TO THOSE W/ THE EXPERTISE AND ONLY HOLD THEM TO ACCOUNT AT ELECTIONS.
- IN ADDITION, DIRECT DEMOCRACY ENABLES WEALTHY/ORGANISED PRESSURE GROUPS TO FLOURISH AS THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUCCESSFULLY MOBILISE SUPPORTERS TO GET OVER THE SIGNATURE THRESHOLDS REQUIRED IN ALL FORMS OF AMERICAN DIRECT DEMOCRACY.*
State a benefit of the use of recall elections.
They increase the accountability of politicians as they force politicians to keep abreast of the public’s concerns for fear of a recall election being triggered.
Evaluate the use of DD in the USA.
- The multitude of ways citizens in certain states can use direct democracy grants them - in theory - the ability to hold politicians to account in the interim period between elections. From this it can be argued that this reduces the distaste towards politics as the public are able to act as a check against the stereotypical self-serving political elite, which should increase political participation and interest.
- However, as shown with the Scott Walker example (see flashcard 11), DD can be used as a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction against unpopular, but necessary policies and hinders ‘joined-up government,’ that is, the approach to policy-design that involves a cross-departmental analysis of the policies implications (rather than focusing on a policy in isolation).
- In addition, whilst DD wrests power from gov’t insiders concerning themselves only w/ the interests of lobbyists, DD may further entrench the position of the wealthy rather than disperse power equally. This was demonstrated with the Californian marijuana proposition (see flashcard 7) where the pro-marijuana lobby outspent their rivals by $20 million.
- However, it could be argued that the merits of US DD is an improvement from insider-pressure group dominated governments as - unlike the UK - the US system of DD allows the public to set the agenda rather than the gov’t using referenda as an expedient political tool (as seen in the UK; the AV referendum and the EU referendum were used as a way of shutting down the pro-PR/pro-Brexit campaigners/rebel MPs rather than giving the public what they wanted).
