Chapter 3: Direct Democracy

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The term “hybrid government” refers to ______.

A. a mixture of old laws with new initiatives

B. an efficient government

C. a blending of direct democracy with representative democracy

D. a group of elected officials who represent every manner of ethnicity and race, reflecting the state’s hyperdiversity

Answer Location: Introduction

2. What is the most appropriate way to characterize California’s political system?

A. direct democracy

B. representative democracy

C. hybrid democracy

D. confederation

Answer Location: Introduction

3. Which political party was able to get direct democracy embedded into California’s constitution over a century ago?

A. Republicans led by President Theodore Roosevelt.

B. Progressives led by Governor Hiram Johnson.

C. Democrats led by Assembly Speaker Jess Unruh.

D. No party; it was a nonpartisan effort led by lobbyist Artie Samish.

Answer Location: Introduction

4. Citizens in California may propose laws via the initiative process ______.

A. at the local, county, and state levels

B. only at the state level

C. at the local level only

D. at the state level, but the legislature must review their proposals first and may reject them

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

5. An alternative to the state’s current direct initiative process is the indirect initiative, which would enable ______.

A. the courts to review the measure for constitutionality

B. the attorney general to incorporate it into state law

C. the legislature to make amendments to the proposed law or consider adopting it

D. Congress members to create a federal law based on the proposed initiative

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

6. The legislature can refer constitutional amendments, bond measures, and laws for the people to approve or disapprove at election time. These measures are known as ______.

A. statutes

B. primary bills

C. legislatively referred measures

D. none of these

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

7. Historically, have Californians used the initiative process more often, less often, or at about the same rate as other states with the initiative process?

A. more often

B. less often

C. about the same

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

8. Thanks to Proposition 13 (in 1978), a ______ vote is required to raise taxes in this state.

A. simple majority vote (50% + 1)

B. 55% vote

C. two-thirds vote

D. unanimous vote

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

9. Citizens in California may propose laws via the initiative process at what level of government?

A. federal, state, county, city

B. state, county, city

C. county and city only

D. city only

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

10. Most proposed ballot measures fail because ______.

A. not enough money is raised by the proponents to raise awareness about it

B. the majority of initiatives deal with raising taxes, and people never vote to raise their taxes

C. the legislature adopts them before the election is held, therefore eliminating the need for people to vote on them

D. the measure’s proponents don’t gather enough valid signatures to qualify it for the ballot

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

11. If a proposition is adopted by the voters, how can it later be changed or amended?

A. only by a vote of the people (through another proposition)

B. either by a vote of the people or through the regular lawmaking process

C. only through the regular lawmaking process

D. only by the courts

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

12. At which point do most initiatives fail?

A. during the preparation stage following the public review and comment period

B. during the qualification stage when signatures are gathered and then verified

C. before the election, because legislators may adopt the measure and remove it from the ballot

D. postelection, when courts invalidate measures

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

13. Do all U.S. states offer some form of the initiative process?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Map 3.1 States with the Initiative Process, 2017

14. Which office certifies ballot measures and assigns an official number to propositions?

A. Attorney General

B. Governor

C. State Auditor

D. Secretary of State

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

15. How long do petitioners have to collect signatures in order to qualify initiatives for the ballot?

A. 1 month (30 days)

B. 3 months (90 days)

C. 6 months (180 days)

D. 1 year (365 days)

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

16. After an initiative is drafted, what must the author of the ballot measure do in order to get a title and summary?

A. Submit the measure to the Attorney General’s office, pay a fee of $2,000, and wait until the 30-day public comment period has ended.

B. Wait for the legislature to hold public hearings about it.

C. Secure an opinion from the state supreme court that it’s constitutional.

D. Submit % of the signatures that will ultimately be needed to qualify the measure for the ballot.

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

17. Does California law require the state Supreme Court to review initiatives before signatures can be gathered?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

18. Does California law require at least one state judge to review initiatives before proponents can gather signatures?

A. Yes

B. No

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

19. After a ballot measure has been submitted to the Attorney General, the only point at which the language of a proposed measure can be changed is ______.

A. during a 5-day window after the month-long public review period

B. at any point until the election ballot is printed

C. never; if it qualifies, the measure that is initially submitted with $2,000 must later be printed exactly the same way on the election ballot

D. after the legislature holds a public hearing about it

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

20. The number of signatures needed to qualify an initiative for the ballot is based on ______.

A. the total number of registered voters at the point in time when signatures are validated

B. an estimate of eligible voters in the state

C. a percentage of all votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election

D. the number of voters who turned out for the last election

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

21. Which of the following government officials (or offices) are directly involved qualifying initiatives?

A. Governor, Supreme Court Chief Justice, Secretary of State, Leaders of the Legislature

B. Supreme Court Chief Justice, Secretary of State

C. Secretary of State, Speaker of the Assembly, Governor

D. Attorney General, Secretary of State

Answer Location: Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

22. Which of the following must happen in order for an initiative to qualify for the ballot?

A. A fee of $5,000 must be paid to the Secretary of State.

B. The state Supreme Court must declare that it is constitutional or not.

C. The Governor must sign it.

D. The Secretary of State must verify that enough valid signatures have been collected.

Answer Location: Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

23. What kinds of initiatives tend to attract the most spending by opponents and proponents?

A. immigration issues

B. economic reform

C. political reform

D. issues that affect industry/business

Answer Location: Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters

24. How many votes are needed to pass an initiative or approve a recall?

A. simple majority (50%+1)

B. plurality (most votes)

C. two-thirds supermajority

D. three-fifths supermajority

Answer Location: Postelection Stage: Court Challenges and Implementation

25. A ______ vote is needed to pass initiatives; a ______ vote is needed to pass bond measures.

A. supermajority; majority

B. supermajority; supermajority

C. simple majority; supermajority

D. majority; majority

Answer Location: Postelection Stage: Court Challenges and Implementation

26. If two similar measures qualify for the ballot and both are approved, which measure takes effect?

A. the measure that is listed first on the ballot, because it qualified first

B. neither, because they cancel each other out

C. the measure that receives more votes

D. the state supreme court possesses the authority to choose the winner

Answer Location: The Power of the Initiative Process

27. Citizen initiatives may be included on the ballot in which types of elections?

A. primary elections only

B. primaries and general elections only

C. general elections and special elections only

D. special elections only

Answer Location: The Power of the Initiative Process

28. The legislature may place initiatives, constitutional amendments, or bonds on ______.

A. any election ballot, including primary, general, or special elections

B. primary election ballots only

C. general election ballots only

D. no ballot; the process is reserved for citizens only

Answer Location: The Power of the Initiative Process

29. The most common form of the referendum in California is ______.

A. the petition referendum

B. statutory initiatives

C. the recall of local officials

D. a bond measure

Answer Location: Referendum

30. State law requires a vote of the people to borrow funds in amounts exceeding ______.

A. $100,000

B. $300,000

C. $1,000,000

D. $3,000,000,000

Answer Location: Referendum

31. Which of these officials in California may be recalled?

A. only local officials

B. local officials and state officials

C. local, state, and federal officials

D. only federal officials

Answer Location: Recall

32. In California, citizens can recall elected officials ______.

A. for any reason

B. only for criminal convictions

C. only after they have been accused of a serious crime, or indicted for wrongdoing

D. only if the election results are determined to be corrupt or compromised

Answer Location: Recall

33. Citizens wishing to recall a governor must collect valid signatures equal to ______ of the votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election, or about ______ signatures.

A. 8%; 500,000

B. 12%; 900,000

C. 25%; 2 million

D. 30%; 2.7 million

Answer Location: Recall

(Note: the 900,000 figure is based on the 2016 election and will change based on turnout for the 2018 election)

34. The initiatives that are usually brought to voters at the local level most often pertain to ______.

A. civil rights and civil liberties

B. public morality and transportation

C. health, welfare, housing, criminal justice, housing

D. funding for education, the political process, taxes, and land use

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

35. How does the initiative process at the local level differ from the process at the state level?

A. the volume of signatures required is higher at the local level.

B. city councils or boards of supervisors may vote to adopt a local initiative if enough signatures have been gathered

C. generally the paperwork and signature gathering processes are far more expensive

D. local initiatives can’t be overturned by the courts

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

36. Historically, which elected officials have been subjected to the most recalls in California?

A. governors

B. county supervisors

C. state legislators

D. school board members

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

37. Compared to statewide ballot measures, local ballot measures ______.

A. have a much higher rate of passage

B. are adopted at about the same rate as statewide propositions

C. have a much lower rate of passage

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

38. Are local initiatives more likely or less likely to be approved by voters than state initiatives?

A. more likely

B. less likely

C. neither more nor less likely (about the same)

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

True/False

1. If initiatives are on the ballot, then on election day every voting Californian is a lawmaker.

Answer Location: Introduction

2. An initiative is a type of ballot measure, not a bill.

Answer Location: Introduction

3. Ballot measures are permitted only at the state level, not at the local level.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

4. California law requires the legislature to approve all initiatives before they reach the ballot.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

5. Not only can California voters change public policy through the ballot box, but also they can change the rules for how state officials conduct their business.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

6. The legislature can refer measures to the ballot for the people to approve or disapprove.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

7. The California constitution allows the legislature to correct any mistakes or make changes to all initiatives before they reach the ballot.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

8. Californians use the initiative process more often than residents in other states that have an initiative process.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

9. If Hiram Johnson were alive today, he would be proud of the fact that most ballot measure campaigns are funded by legions of small donors, or those who donate anywhere from $5 to $1,000.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

10. Small donors, defined as those who donate $1,000 or less, account for just 2% of all contributions to ballot measure campaigns.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

11. Direct democracy exists in all California counties and municipalities, meaning that citizens can write laws, and with enough signatures, their measure can be put to a vote of the people locally, either in cities or counties.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

12. Once a title and summary have been assigned to a proposed law or ballot proposition, the text of law can be changed if mistakes are discovered.

Answer Location: Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling

13. In order to qualify an initiative for the ballot, usually the signature gatherers must collect about twice the number needed because so many are found to be invalid.

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

14. For a signature on a ballot measure petition to be valid, the person must be a registered voter in the county where he or she signs the petition.

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

15. The signatures of any adult citizen, whether or not they are registered to vote in California, are considered valid signatures.

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

16. More signatures are needed to qualify a constitutional amendment for the ballot than are needed for regular, statutory initiatives.

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

17. In the United States, most of the states that allow citizen initiatives are in the West or Midwest.

Answer Location: Map 3.1 States with the Initiative Process, 2017

18. In the United States, no state on the east coast allows citizens to vote on laws without the legislature’s prior involvement.

Answer Location: Map 3.1 States with the Initiative Process, 2017

19. Initiatives and propositions are the same thing.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

20. California is the only state with the direct initiative; in all other initiative states, only the indirect process is allowed.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Map 3.1 States with the Initiative Process, 2017

21. All states in the United States offer some form of the initiative process.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Map 3.1 States with the Initiative Process, 2017

22. Historically, Californians have rejected far more initiatives than they have approved.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Figure 3.1 Number of Statewide Initiatives that Qualified and Voters Approved in California, 1912–2016

23. Fewer signatures are needed to qualify a Constitutional amendment for the ballot than are needed for regular, statutory initiatives.

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

24. Contributions to ballot initiative campaigns are capped at $5,000; no person or entity may donate more than that amount to any one ballot measure in an election cycle.

Answer Location: Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters

25. There are no limits on contributions to ballot initiative campaigns; contributions may be in any dollar amount, and the typical donation is in the $1 million range.

Location: Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters

26. A two-thirds vote is required to pass any kind of bond in California.

Answer Location: Referendum

27. Voters must approve bonds (state borrowing) totaling $300,000 or more.

Answer Location: Referendum

28. If voters disapprove of an existing law, no matter how long the law has been in effect, then they can try to collect enough signatures to prompt a referendum on it.

Answer Location: Referendum

29. Once a law goes into effect, voters only have 3 months (90 days) to initiate a petition to hold a referendum on it.

Answer Location: Referendum

30. Because of the interest that must be repaid, a bond typically can cost about twice the face amount that is borrowed. Thus, a $5 billion bond may actually cost taxpayers almost twice that amount by the time it is paid off.

Answer Location: Referendum

31. Referendums (or referenda) are rare in California.

Answer Location: Referendum

32. Regular, general obligation bond measures require a supermajority of two thirds to pass; however, there is a lower vote threshold for school bonds to pass (55%).

Answer Location: Referendum

33. In California, citizens can recall officials for any reason.

Answer Location: Recall

34. All U.S. states allow their citizens to recall elected officials who commit crimes.

Answer Location: Recall

35. Citizens wishing to recall a governor should collect over 1 million valid signatures, because many signatures might be invalidated later in the process.

Answer Location: Recall

36. Although Californians may recall their state officials, they may not recall their U.S. House representative or U.S. Senators.

Answer Location: Recall

37. Californians may recall any elected official if they gather the requisite number of valid signatures.

Answer Location: Recall

38. A ballot measure at the local level can be an initiative written by a citizen or group of citizens.

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

39. Local ballot measures generally have a high rate of passage--much higher than statewide ballot measures.

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

40. Citizens may propose laws for California cities, towns, or counties.

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

41. The process for passing an initiative at the local level is similar to that at the state level, in that a certain number of signatures must be gathered and verified by a local elections official.

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

42. Only city council members or mayors may propose laws or ordinances for California cities, towns, or counties.

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

Short Answer

1. The three types of direct democracy are: ______, ______, and ______.

Answer Location: Introduction

2. Californians can propose initiative ______ that establish new laws, or initiative ______ which add or amend the state constitution.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

3. The supermajority requirement to pass a school bond is ______%.

Answer Location: Postelection Stage: Court Challenges and Implementation

4. The supermajority requirement to pass a general obligation bond is ______.

Answer Location: Postelection Stage: Court Challenges and Implementation

5. The percentage of votes required to pass an initiative in California is ______.

Answer Location: Postelection Stage: Court Challenges and Implementation

Essay

1. How does direct democracy challenge the theoretical assumptions of representative democracy?

Answer Location: Introduction

2. In simple terms, why did Progressive reformers establish direct democracy?

A. Reformers aimed to reduce the power of special interests and their lobbyists (i.e., to reduce the actuality and potential for corruption), and wanted to increase the power of individuals as a “check” against an unresponsive legislature or government. (Note: this answer builds on information contained in Chapter 2).

Answer Location: Introduction

3. Describe the three types of direct democracy in California.

Answer Location: Introduction

4. In what sense is California government a “hybrid” government?

Answer Location: Introduction

5. What is the difference between the direct and indirect initiative, and which type or types exist in California?

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Direct Democracy at the Local Level

6. How do large donors practically monopolize the initiative system?

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

7. Describe two types of initiatives that may qualify for the state ballot.

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

8. What is a “valid” signature on a ballot measure petition?

Answer Location: Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

9. What are three valid means of collecting signatures on ballot petitions?

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

10. What role does the legislature play in the initiative process?

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

11. Name three landmark propositions (initiatives) passed in California after 1965; use the proposition number and give a short title or description.

Answer Location: Table 3.1 Selected Landmark Initiatives in California, 1966–2016

12. Briefly describe the three stages through which an initiative must pass in order to become law in California.

Answer Location: Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification | Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters

13. Briefly describe the four stages through which an initiative must pass in order to take effect California.

Answer Location: Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification | Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters | Postelection Stage: Court Challenges and Implementation

14. What happens at the preparation stage of the initiative process?

Answer Location: Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling

15. What happens at the qualification stage of the initiative process?

Answer Location: Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

16. What happens at the campaign stage of the initiative process?

Answer Location: Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters

17. What happens during the postelection stage of the initiative process?

Answer Location: Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters

18. What are some of the perceived problems with today’s initiative process? What remedies have been suggested to address them?

Answer Location: The Power of the Initiative Process | Box 3.1 Reforming the Initiative Process

19. Why do corporations and special interests find initiatives appealing?

Answer Location: The Power of the Initiative Process

20. Define “referendum.”

Answer Location: Referendum

21. Does direct democracy work as the Progressives intended it? Why or why not?

Answer Location: The Power of the Initiative Process | Box 3.1 Reforming the Initiative Process | Conclusion: The Perils and Promises of Hybrid Democracy

22. How does the initiative process frustrate collective action?

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process

23. What explains the increased use of the initiative process in the past few decades?

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification

24. In what ways does the initiative process in California advantage resource-rich, “special interests” and disadvantage average citizens?

Answer Location: The Statewide Initiative Process | Preparation Stage: Drafting, Public Review, and Titling | Qualification Stage: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification | Campaign Stage: Persuading Potential Voters

(Note: the 365,880 figure is based on the 2016 election and will change based on turnout for the 2018 election)

25. How does the initiative process at the local level differ from the process at the state level?

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

26. What are parcel taxes?

Answer Location: Introduction at the Local Level

27. Suggest a few ways to reduce the number of initiatives on the ballot.

Answer Location: Box 3.1 Reforming the Initiative Process