⇒ An initiative is a state-based vote on a specific issue that has been organised by the voter themselves
⇒ Enables voters to bypass state legislature by placing proposed laws on the ballot
⇒ 24 states have a proposition process
⇒ A Direct Initiative is when an initiative measure, either an initiated state statute or initiated constitutional amendment, is placed directly on the ballot for voters to reject or pass.
⇒ An indirect initiative refers to a process where after sufficient signatures to place a measure on the ballot are collected, the measure is first considered by a state or local legislative body.
⇒ Widespread distrust of politicians (e.g. Mark Foley scandal)
⇒ Failures to address issues that voters are concerned about (e.g. minimum wage has not been raised for several years)
⇒ Wedge issue = policies that concern one set of voters more than another set
⇒ Attempt by parties to boost turnout among core supporters: Republican 'wedge issues' are abortion and gay marriage, Democrat 'wedge issues' concern labour laws and the minimum wage
⇒ Help increase turnout - studies suggest initiatives increase turnout in mid-term elections by 1.7%
⇒ Provides a way of enacting reforms on controversial matters that state legislatures are often unwilling/unable to act upon (e.g. campaign finance reform and medical marijuana is legal in California due to an initiative)
⇒ Existence of a proposition can increase the responsiveness of state legislatures and increase their performance and accountability
⇒ May increase citizen interest and encourage other forms of participation
⇒ Impact on minority rights e.g. Oklahoma voters chose to ban Sharia law
⇒ Influence of special interests - difficulty in getting an issue on the state ballot (California requires 5% of the vote) means that only those with resources can pay firms to help meet requirements
⇒ Impact on representative government - California's perpetual budget crises have stemmed partly from ballot initiatives that ban the raising of certain taxes
⇒ Initiatives lack flexibility - once it's been put on the state ballot it cannot be amended until after it has been adopted
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