Initiatives And Referendums In The United States
In the politics of the United States, initiative and referendum is a process that allows citizens of many U.S. states to place new legislation on a popular ballot, or place laws recently passed by the legislature on the ballot, and vote on it.
Initiative and referendum, along with recall elections and popular primary elections, is one of the signature reforms of the Progressive Era.
It is written into several state constitutions, particularly in the West.
Read more about Initiatives And Referendums In The United States: History, Types of Initiatives and Referendums, Objections To The System, Proposed Reforms
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—Paula Lopossa, U.S. judge. As quoted in the New York Times, p. B9 (May 21, 1993)