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
- 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

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Evaluate the use of recalls, referendums and initiatives as forms of direct democracy in the USA. (30 marks)

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