Evaluate how democratic, in practice, initiatives and referendums are in making public policy decisions in the USA. (30 marks)
- Created by: yazmintaylorx
- Created on: 25-04-18 12:00
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- initiatives & referendums in making public policy decisions
- agree
- initiatives are 'bottom-up' direct democratic devices
- initiated by the voters themselves
- not 'top-down' decisions made by elected reps. then put to voters for a decision
- highly democratic devices showing 'popular sovereignty'
- directly involve voters in decisions on specific issues and encourage greater participation and involvement
- remove some of the disadvs. of representative democracy
- e.g. blanket votes at elections or avoidance of politically controversial issues by those seeking office
- referendums mean state legislatures cannot act without the permission of voters on some issues
- initiatives are 'bottom-up' direct democratic devices
- disagree
- low turnout undermining legitimacy of the vote
- wording of the questions
- methods used to collect the signatures
- unequal funding of the two sides
- dominance of special interests in the campaigns
- promote short-term gain against long-term interest
- propositions have discriminated against minorities
- state SCs can overturn the initiative decisions as unconstitutional
- few are successful
- DEFENCE of politicians
- accountable, elected reps.
- making decisions to benefit everyone in the long-term
- Prop 13 in 1978, Big Green in 1992
- gay marriage, affirmative, action, abortion & stem cell research initiatives in 2004
- propositions 13 & 8 in Cali. 2008
- proposition 19 on cannabis in Cali. 2010
- agree
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