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California’s Initiative and Referendum
Define the initiative and referendum. What purpose do each serve? Include the process of how they may be added to the ballot. Provide examples of each
California’s Initiative and Referendum Answer
Two of the mechanisms of direct democracy available to Californians are initiative and referendum. They differ in terms of purpose and mechanisms, but they both contribute in the widening of citizen participation in the decision and policy-making processes in the state.
Initiative is the most popular mode of direct democracy used in California. In this mechanism, registered Californian voters can propose a law or amendment to the state constitution. On the other hand, a referendum allows registered Californian voters to either approve, repeal or amend an already existing law or statute (Field, 2013).