Difference between revisions of "Initiatives, Referenda and Recall"

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'''Initiatives, Referenda and Recall'''
 
'''Initiatives, Referenda and Recall'''
  
The Green Party supports initiative, referendum and recall as essential direct democracy tools; and seeks to retain and enhance these important institutions.
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The Green Party supports initiative, referendum and recall as essential tools of direct democracy; and the Green Party seeks to retain and enhance these important institutions.
  
The strength of the initiative process is that it gives citizens the ability to by-pass the legislature and act directly as legislators themselves. Through the initiative process, citizens can propose statutes and amendments to the California Constitution -- an important option when elected officials are non-responsive to their constituents. The weakness of the initiative process is the degree to which all phases can be determined by big money, from qualifying for the ballot, to waging statewide ballot measure campaigns.  
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The strength of the initiative process is that it gives citizens the ability to by-pass the legislature and act directly as legislators. Through the initiative process, citizens can propose statutes and amendments to the California Constitution -- a critical option, especially when elected officials are deemed un-responsive by their constituents.  
  
Originally intended as a way for citizen voters to access the government structure, the initiative process has too often ecome a large-scale commercial and fundraising enterprise -- it can cost millions of dollars and require a great deal of organization just to gather the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot. Then there is the private, for-profit and sometimes politically-oriented role signature-gathering companies play in determining the cost and access of our democracy.
+
The weakness of the initiative process is the degree to which its components can be determined by big money -- from qualifying for the ballot, to waging statewide election campaigns. Too often the initiative process has become a large-scale commercial and fundraising enterprise. It can cost millions of dollars and require a great deal of organization just to gather the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot. Then there is the private, for-profit role that signature-gathering companies play in determining the cost of access to our democracy.
  
In response, Greens support making it easier for volunteer-based efforts to qualify initiatives and referendum; and at the same time to increase financial disclosure for ballot measures by identifying their major contributors. Greens also seek ways to ensure that better drafted measures ultimately make it to the ballot. During the election campaigns, Greens support ensuring television and radio time for informational programming; pro/con debates for each measure; and contribution and spending limits on the pro/con campaigns.
+
In response, Greens support making it easier for volunteer-based efforts to qualify initiatives, referendum and recall, and propose different ways this could occur. During the election season, Greens support ensuring television and radio time for informational programming; pro/con debates for each statewide ballot measure; and contribution and spending limits for pro/con campaigns. At the same time, Greens support increasing financial disclosure for all ballot measures.  
 
 
Its also important however to look back.  There is more in the CA constitution than hsould be.  Whether.
 
 
 
Realize that a legislature with proportioanl representation may be more resopnsivel then the current winner-take-all.
 
 
 
The difference between the two is that by law, what comes through the legislature or the initiative process is limited to addressing a single subject, whereas a constitutional convention can recommend symbiotic changes in an integrated, comprehensive manner.
 
 
 
Then there is the question of approval thresholds. Greens believe that what is contained in the constitution should be more enduring than simply statues, and therefore should have super majority support. Therefore going forward, we and support that going forward for new amendments. At the same time But there is also
 
 
 
Many things that don't belong in the constitution are there.  The US Constitution
 
 
 
If make it super majority going forward, makes task more difficult.  Perhaps a
 
 
 
The California Constitution gives the legislature the ability by a 2/3 vote to place before the voters whether there should be a Constitutional Convention. If passed, "the Legislature shall provide for the convention,” after which the Convention would meet and the changes it recommends be placed again before the voters as a single measure.
 
 
 
Even though the Green Party supports retaining and strengthening the single subjct rule, there is a role for comprehensvie through a constitutionva conventeion.
 
If it has legal guarantee,
 
 
 
Eight times the length of the U.S. Constitution, The California Constitution is the third longest in the world.
 
  
 
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'''Signature Gathering'''
 
'''Signature Gathering'''
  
- Make it easier to qualify an initiative or referendum proposal using volunteers, by extending the number of days to qualify for the ballot for signature-gathering efforts that both utilize large percentages of volunteers and stay within voluntary spending limits (where mandatory limits are not possible by law), and/or weigh more highly the signatures obtained utilizing volunteers
+
- Make it easier to qualify an initiative or referendum proposal using volunteers, by extending the number of days to qualify for the ballot for signature-gathering efforts that utilize large percentages of volunteers and stay within spending limits, and/or weigh more highly the signatures obtained utilizing volunteers
 
 
- Where is is possible to truly safeguard security, identity and privacy allow signature gathering Internet and/or other electronic technology for initiative and referendum; and in such cases there may be a higher signature threshold
 
  
'''Drafting'''
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- Where is is possible to truly safeguard security, identity and privacy, allow signature gathering for initiative and referendum via the Internet and/or other electronic technology.
  
- Initiative proposals should be written in language that is precise, clear, and understandable and meets standards of readability.
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'''Drafting, 'Title and Summary'''
 
 
- Establish a mandatory pre-circulation review where initiative sponsors are required to submit draft proposals to an impartial and nonpartisan, official authority, such as the Legislative Analyst’s Office (for statewide measures), for a pre-circulation review of clarity/language, constitutionality/legality, and single subject. The opinion resulting from this pre-circulation review should be made public.
 
  
 
- Initiative proposals should be limited to a single subject. The definition of “single subject” should ensure clear interpretation and strict enforcement.
 
- Initiative proposals should be limited to a single subject. The definition of “single subject” should ensure clear interpretation and strict enforcement.
 
      
 
      
 
- Initiatives with provisions that would require funding should specify the sources or method(s) of providing the funding.
 
- Initiatives with provisions that would require funding should specify the sources or method(s) of providing the funding.
 
- Initiatives (statutory) should include a provision providing for an automatic review/re-vote or expiration of the measure, as appropriate.
 
 
'''Title and Summary'''
 
  
 
- The title and summary should be written by an impartial and non-partisan official authority, such as the Legislative Analyst's Office (for statewide measures).
 
- The title and summary should be written by an impartial and non-partisan official authority, such as the Legislative Analyst's Office (for statewide measures).
 
- Ballot pamphlet analyses of initiative and referendum measures should be written for the reading level of the average citizen.
 
 
- The ballot label and ballot pamphlet should clearly indicate the effect of a yes vote and a no vote.
 
  
 
'''Voting and Approval Thresholds'''
 
'''Voting and Approval Thresholds'''
  
 
- An initiative statute, or a legislative statute appearing on the ballot as a referendum, should be approved by a simple majority of those voting on the measure.
 
- An initiative statute, or a legislative statute appearing on the ballot as a referendum, should be approved by a simple majority of those voting on the measure.
 
- The approval threshold to approve an initiative constitutional amendment should be higher than a simple majority vote
 
  
 
- An initiative statute or constitutional amendment that imposes a new requirement for passage of future initiatives should meet the same requirement.
 
- An initiative statute or constitutional amendment that imposes a new requirement for passage of future initiatives should meet the same requirement.
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- An initiative should not be allowed to provide for different outcomes depending upon the percentage of votes cast in its favor.
 
- An initiative should not be allowed to provide for different outcomes depending upon the percentage of votes cast in its favor.
  
- Voting on constitutional amendments should only occur at general elections.
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- The approval threshold to approve an initiative constitutional amendment should be higher than a simple majority vote, but only after a cleaning up of the state constitution to separate what belongs in a constitution and what is an initiative statute 
  
 
'''Elections'''
 
'''Elections'''
  
- Provide free time for informational television and radio information about the initiative and referendum proposals on the ballot, and broadcast any public hearings the Legislature holds/has held on the initiative proposals on the ballot.
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- Provide free time for informational television and radio information about the initiative and referendum proposals on the ballot, and broadcast any public hearings the Legislature holds on the initiative proposals.
  
- Impose contribution and expenditure limits by individuals and groups in initiative and referendum campaigns - mandatory where possible by law and voluntary when not.
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- Impose contribution and expenditure limits by individuals and groups in initiative and referendum campaigns - mandatory limits where possible by law, and voluntary when not.
  
- Conduct a series of televised debates featuring the yes and no sides of initiative and referendum proposals, just as there are pro/con arguments in the voter information guide - but only for campaigns operating within spending limits.
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- Conduct a series of televised debates featuring the yes and no sides of initiative and referendum proposals, similar to the pro/con arguments in the voter information guide - but only for campaigns accepting and operating within voluntary spending limits.
  
 
'''Disclosure'''
 
'''Disclosure'''
  
- Require that sponsors of an initiative or referendum and organizations that form a committee to support or oppose a measure be listed by name in the ballot pamphlet, in mailings, and in advertisements.
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- Require that disclosure requirements that already apply to mailings and advertisements in support or opposition to an initiative or referendum, also apply to disclosure in the ballot pamphlet and voter information guide for those ballot measures
 +
 
 +
- Require that that at least the top three sponsors of an initiative or referendum and organizations that form a committee to support or oppose a measure be listed by name in the ballot pamphlet, in mailings, and in advertisements.
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 +
- Require that at least the top three principal contributors to an initiative or referendum campaign be listed by name in the ballot pamphlet, in mailings, and in advertisements.
  
- Require that principal contributors to an initiative or referendum campaign be listed by name in the ballot pamphlet, in mailings, and in advertisements.
+
- Where an initiative or referendum campaign has substantially qualified for the ballot through signature-gathering by volunteers, include this with other disclosure information.
  
 
- Require that initiative and referendum committees use names that reflect their true economic or special interest.
 
- Require that initiative and referendum committees use names that reflect their true economic or special interest.
  
 
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Latest revision as of 05:32, 3 November 2016

Initiatives, Referenda and Recall

The Green Party supports initiative, referendum and recall as essential tools of direct democracy; and the Green Party seeks to retain and enhance these important institutions.

The strength of the initiative process is that it gives citizens the ability to by-pass the legislature and act directly as legislators. Through the initiative process, citizens can propose statutes and amendments to the California Constitution -- a critical option, especially when elected officials are deemed un-responsive by their constituents.

The weakness of the initiative process is the degree to which its components can be determined by big money -- from qualifying for the ballot, to waging statewide election campaigns. Too often the initiative process has become a large-scale commercial and fundraising enterprise. It can cost millions of dollars and require a great deal of organization just to gather the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot. Then there is the private, for-profit role that signature-gathering companies play in determining the cost of access to our democracy.

In response, Greens support making it easier for volunteer-based efforts to qualify initiatives, referendum and recall, and propose different ways this could occur. During the election season, Greens support ensuring television and radio time for informational programming; pro/con debates for each statewide ballot measure; and contribution and spending limits for pro/con campaigns. At the same time, Greens support increasing financial disclosure for all ballot measures.


The Green Party proposes:

Signature Gathering

- Make it easier to qualify an initiative or referendum proposal using volunteers, by extending the number of days to qualify for the ballot for signature-gathering efforts that utilize large percentages of volunteers and stay within spending limits, and/or weigh more highly the signatures obtained utilizing volunteers

- Where is is possible to truly safeguard security, identity and privacy, allow signature gathering for initiative and referendum via the Internet and/or other electronic technology.

Drafting, 'Title and Summary

- Initiative proposals should be limited to a single subject. The definition of “single subject” should ensure clear interpretation and strict enforcement.

- Initiatives with provisions that would require funding should specify the sources or method(s) of providing the funding.

- The title and summary should be written by an impartial and non-partisan official authority, such as the Legislative Analyst's Office (for statewide measures).

Voting and Approval Thresholds

- An initiative statute, or a legislative statute appearing on the ballot as a referendum, should be approved by a simple majority of those voting on the measure.

- An initiative statute or constitutional amendment that imposes a new requirement for passage of future initiatives should meet the same requirement.

- An initiative statute or constitutional amendment that requires a super-majority vote for passage of future related issues should be required to receive the same super-majority vote approval for its passage.

- An initiative should not be allowed to provide for different outcomes depending upon the percentage of votes cast in its favor.

- The approval threshold to approve an initiative constitutional amendment should be higher than a simple majority vote, but only after a cleaning up of the state constitution to separate what belongs in a constitution and what is an initiative statute

Elections

- Provide free time for informational television and radio information about the initiative and referendum proposals on the ballot, and broadcast any public hearings the Legislature holds on the initiative proposals.

- Impose contribution and expenditure limits by individuals and groups in initiative and referendum campaigns - mandatory limits where possible by law, and voluntary when not.

- Conduct a series of televised debates featuring the yes and no sides of initiative and referendum proposals, similar to the pro/con arguments in the voter information guide - but only for campaigns accepting and operating within voluntary spending limits.

Disclosure

- Require that disclosure requirements that already apply to mailings and advertisements in support or opposition to an initiative or referendum, also apply to disclosure in the ballot pamphlet and voter information guide for those ballot measures

- Require that that at least the top three sponsors of an initiative or referendum and organizations that form a committee to support or oppose a measure be listed by name in the ballot pamphlet, in mailings, and in advertisements.

- Require that at least the top three principal contributors to an initiative or referendum campaign be listed by name in the ballot pamphlet, in mailings, and in advertisements.

- Where an initiative or referendum campaign has substantially qualified for the ballot through signature-gathering by volunteers, include this with other disclosure information.

- Require that initiative and referendum committees use names that reflect their true economic or special interest.