Direct democracy is alive and growing in the form of statewide ballot initiatives. Currently, twenty-four states allow individuals and groups to propose laws for direct voter consideration and tens of millions of dollars flow into the initiative industrial complex each election cycle. This book assesses the health of the initiative process through the insights of the leading initiative scholars, top journalists, and important political consultants from across the country. The book provides a critical and balanced look into a political mechanism that is having a profound influence on American politics.
Reviews
The growth of the initiative process leapfrogs all those messy Madisonian checks and balances. Measures that wouldn't stand a chance in a state legislature can become law overnight. This excellent collection of essays and responses by both academics and practitioners will help us all better understand the dangers of direct democracy. -- Robert F. Chase, president, National Education Association Provides an excellent survey of the issues surrounding ballot initiatives and associated calls for reform. Particularly laudable are extensive citations to the burgeoning academic literature on initiative process and its political consequences found throughout the book. The book is an excellent starting point for anyone wishing to learn more about the workings of the initiative process and the pros and cons of proposed initiative reforms. * Public Choice * A collection of contributions from the good and great in the area... * Political Studies Review * This is an important discussion of a topic increasingly prominent on the political agendaare expensive initiative campaigns compatible with our system of representative government? -- David S. Broder, Washington Post
Acknowledgments vii Introduction ix Larry J. Sabato Bruce A. Larson Howard R. Ernst The Historical Role of Narrow-Material Interests in Initiative Politics 1(32) Howard R. Ernst Challenging Initiatives: More than Just Special-Interest Money, an Issue of Political Civility 26(4) Sue Tupper Initiative Politics: A Useful Blend of Vasted Interests and Citizen Politics 30(3) Douglas M. Guetzloe The Populist Legacy: Initiatives and the Undermining of Representative Government 33(38) Bruce E. Cain Kenneth P. Miller Time to Walk the Talk 62(4) Mike Gravel Dumber than Chimps? An Assessment of Direct Democracy Voters 66(5) Arthur Lupia Campaign Financing of Ballot Initiatives in the American States 71(30) Daniel A. Smith Regulations on the Ballot Initiative Process: Interfering with Political Liberty 90(4) Paul Grant The Initiative Process: Where People Count 94(7) Paul Jacob Political Consultants and the Initiative Industrial Complex 101(42) Todd Donovan Shaun Bowler David S. McCuan The Initiative Campaign Business: A Consultants Perspective 135(4) Gale R. Kaufman Observations of Initiative Elections 139(4) Ron Faucheux The Logic of Reform: Assessing Initiative Reform Strategies 143(36) Elisabeth R. Gerber Prospects of Reforming the Initiative Process 172(3) M. Dane Waters An Alligator in the Bathtub: Assessing Initiative Reform Proposals 175(4) Peter Schrag A Call for Change: Making the Best of Initiative Politics 179(16) Larry J. Sabato Howard R. Ernst Bruce A. Larson Response to ``A Call for Change 190(5) Kenneth Mulligan Notes 195(8) Bibliography 203(16) Index 219(10) About the Contributors 229
Larry J. Sabato is Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs and director of the Center for Governmental Studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He is the author of numerous books including Feeding Frenzy: How Attack Journalism Has Transformed American Politics and Peepshow: Media and Politics in an Age of Scandal. Howard R. Ernst is assistant professor of political science department at the United States Naval Academy. Bruce A. Larson is assistant professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
