Category Archives: direct democracy
“Could Prop. 49 be Prop. 140 redux?”
David Ettinger:
Which raises the question of how the Supreme Court’s order will affect inter-branch relations and brings to mind the court’s action almost a quarter century ago on another ballot measure, Proposition 140. That measure was definitely not … Continue reading
Ventura County Anti-Pension Ballot Measure Booted from Ballot
“California State Court of Appeals Won’t Remove Advisory Measure on Campaign Finance from California November 2014 Ballot”
Ballot Access News reports.
The Sacramento Bee says the challengers are now petitioning the CA Supreme Court.
Irony Dept: Group Exposing Names of Signers of Anti-Gay Petition are Themselves Staying Anonymous Citing Fears of Harassment
You can’t make this stuff up.
Chris Geidner:
In a twist, the people behind the website, HEROpetition.com, are themselves remaining anonymous. A person responding to an inquiry made to the email address provided on the website, HEROpetition.com, told BuzzFeed… Continue reading
“Names and addresses of Texans who signed anti-gay petition leaked online”
Gay Star News:
Texas LGBT group has published on the Internet the personal details of Texans who signed a petition against a recent LGBT anti-discrimination bill.
A group under the website HeroPetition.com, named after the Houston Equal Rights… Continue reading
Dept. of Ewwww…Groping Petition Canvassers
Water bond petition workers caught on home surveillance video:
Canvassers working on behalf of the Let Claremont Vote Committee started making the rounds last week, circulating a petition for a separate measure calling for voter approval on the city’s water… Continue reading
“BREAKING: Over four dissents, 10th Circuit denies en banc hearing in Guarantee Clause case”
Derek Muller has the news.
This is potentially a huge case and I expect it will be bound for the Supreme Court.
“Will There Ever Be Six Californias?”
My interview with WSJ Digital about the proposed ballot measure.
“Taking the Initiative: How to Save Direct Democracy”
Jessica Levinson has posted this draft of SSRN (forthcoming, Lewis and Clark Law Review). Here is the abstract:
In Meyer v. Grant a unanimous Supreme Court dealt a grievous blow to the most popular form of direct democracy – the… Continue reading
“Disentangling the direct and indirect effects of the initiative process”
John Matsusaka has written this article for Public Choice. Here is the abstract:
Voter initiatives are important for policy making in many countries. While much research shows that the initiative process affects policy choices, almost no evidence explains how the… Continue reading
Empathy for Whom in First Amendment Cases?
Dahlia Lithwick, comparing McCullen to Doe v. Reed:
Several members of the Roberts court seem to have a sliding scale of empathy that affords boundless concern for signers of an anti-gay referendum and very little compassion for real women… Continue reading
“When Voters Pull the Trigger: Can Direct Democracy Restrain Legislative Excesses?”
Vladimir Kogan has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
Direct democracy is sometimes described as a “gun behind the door” that influences state policy outcomes, but little is known about how legislators react when voters actually pull… Continue reading
Breaking: Divided 9th Circuit Strikes Down CA Law Requiring Identity of Ballot Measure Proponents on Face of Petition
The vote on this point in Chula Vista Citizens for Jobs v. Norris was 2-1. I expect this issue will go en banc and perhaps to the Supreme Court—with a decent chance of reversal.