Category Archives: direct democracy
“GOP flagging in effort to reverse initiative change”
No more CA initiatives during primaries?
“GOP lawyer opens referendum process on initiative bill”
SacBee: A possible Chuck Bell referendum on the bill limiting initiatives.
“After 100 years, does California’s initiative process need a tune-up?”
Timm Herdt explores.
PPIC Polling Includes Questions on Initiative Process, Term Limits in CA
Among the findings:
Reforming the initiative process: Californians are generally satisfied (12% very satisfied, 50% somewhat satisfied) with the initiative process. But nearly 90 percent say special interests control it a lot (54%) or some (34%). Asked about possible… Continue reading
“Mend, If Not End; What’s the Single Best Thing We Can Do to Improve the Initiative Process?”
Zocalo gets some interesting answers.
“DIRECT DEMOCRACY: THE CAUSE OF CALIFORNIA’S PROBLEMS —OR THE SOLUTION?”
Interesting event in Los Angeles on October 5.
“Direct (Anti-)Democracy”
Max Stearns has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, George Washington Law Review). Here is the abstract:
Legal scholars, economists, and political scientists are divided on whether voter initiatives and legislative referendums tend to produce outcomes that are more (or… Continue reading
More on the Timing of Gay Marriage Vote in NC
See this story:
Bill supporters decided to put the question on the May primary ballot next year rather than the November 2012 general election ballot, ensuring the proposal would win support from enough Democrats to clear the 72 House-vote… Continue reading
Gay Marriage Initiative Timing
I’m surprised this North Carolina measure was not pushed to be on the general election ballot, as a potential way of getting out the Republican vote. Could it be that public opinion has shifted enough so that this is not… Continue reading
Quote of the Day
“I refuse to go down this slippery slope, where the state decides what citizens must wear when petitioning the government.”
—CA Gov. Jerry Brown, vetoing a bill requiring paid petition circulators to wear “paid” badges
“Can Two Play the Voter-Turnout Game”
Tim Herdt contrasts Republican-favored voter id laws with CA Democrats’ attempts to move ballot measure elections in the state to general elections only.
“Prop. 8 backers seem likely to win right to appeal its rejection”
“Prop. 8 sponsors’ arguments go before California high court; The court’s ruling will determine whether initiative sponsors in California are entitled to defend their measures in state court if the governor and the attorney general refuse.”
The LA Times reports. I’m with Emily Bazelon on this one.