Evaluate the use of recalls, referendums and initiatives as forms of direct democracy in the USA. (30 marks)
- Created by: yazmintaylorx
- Created on: 25-04-18 16:57
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- Recalls, Referendums & Initiatives
- Initiatives & Referendums
- huge signature collection needed to get a proposition onto the ballot paper
- 5% - 15% of the electorate
- 162 propositions in 2016; 27 in 2017
- methods used to collect signatures favour interest groups
- initiatives are 'bottom-up' direct democratic devices initiated by voters not 'top-down' decisions made by elected officials
- all states (except Delaware) require amendments to their constitutions to be approved by referendum
- initiatives can be highly democratic devices showing 'popular sovereignty'
- directly involve the voters in decision-making on specific issues
- encourage greater participation and involvement
- remove some of the disadvantages. of representative democracy
- e.g. blanket votes or avoidance of controversial issues by office seekers
- low turnout undermining legitimacy of result
- wording of the questions
- unequal funding of the two sides
- dominance of special interests in campaigns
- promote short-term gain against long-term interest
- some propositions have discriminated against minorities
- SCs can overturn initiatives as unconstitutional and few are successful
- DEFENCE of politicians
- accountability, elected reps.
- make decisions in interest of ALL in the long-term
- huge signature collection needed to get a proposition onto the ballot paper
- Recalls
- allows citizens to remove & replace a public official before the end of a term of office
- held as a result of recall petitions from registered voters
- they're used very rarely in 19 states only with no provision made at federal level
- provides accountability & makes politicians answer for possible corruption or incompetence between election
- give more power & control to electorate over elected reps. or officials
- possible undermining of elected reps. and responsible politicians through frivolous recalls financed by their partisan opponents
- opponents failed to defeat them in free & fair election
- discourage the taking of blood by unpopular decisions
- successful recall of Gray Davis (Dem. Gov.) and election of Repub. Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Scott Walker (R. Gov. of Wisconsin) won firecely contested recall 2013
- first Gov. to win recall in US history
- 2013 Colorado saw successful recall of 2 state senators John Morse & Angela Giron
- both lost following support of strict new gun control legislation
- recalls have been proposed for the UK but not yet acted upon
- 2017 Ohio Prop 1 consititution right for crime victims passed
- 2017 Maine Prop 1 casino or slot machines in York Country failed
- Initiatives & Referendums
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