Wealthy railroad owners controlled the governor and other state officials. The politics of initiative, referendum, and recall. List of books and articles about direct democracy online. Joe mathews, copresident of the global forum on modern direct democracy let the people rule proposes a provocative yet compelling remedy to the populist challenge to modern american democracy. Is the recall in the best interest of californians.
Jeffs, founder of the direct democracy center, including published and unpublished letters to the editor. The epic story of the transcontinental railroad new york. Californians adopted the initiative process on october 10, 1911, becoming the tenth state to adopt this form of direct democracy. Opinion how to fix californias democracy crisis the. Discover librarianselected research resources on direct democracy from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The most important historical reference of direct democracy is to assembly democracy in ancient greek citystates, particularly athens, where decisions were taken by peoples assemblies of some 1,000 male citizens. The first was the ekklesia, or assembly, the sovereign governing body of athens. Despite the authors bias against direct democracy, the book is a good read for the issues, personalities, and organizations in the progressive period of the reform era. The coming age of direct democracy and millions of other books are. This book examines the new, hybrid democracy that has been taking shape in california since the historic recall of gov. Despite the authors bias against direct democracy, the book is a good read for the issues, personalities, and. Californias political parties and direct democracy.
Californias voters can also help make laws by creating ballot propositions. It was placed on the ballot through the california initiative or referendum process under which a proposed law or. Later, peoples assemblies were used in many swiss cantons and towns as well as in town meetings in some american colonies and states. Books such as me on the map by joan sweeney and maps and globes by jack.
At this time, state legislators elected the members of the united states senate. The politics of initiative, referendum, and recall twentieth century fund booksreportsstudies thomas cronin on. One hundred years ago hiram johnson, one of the most consequential governors in californias history, called a special election. A philadelphian who held doctorates in both medicine and philosophy, dr. Direct democracy was one of the significant issues of the 1912 campaign, and of the progressive era in general. If voters could in an industrial democracy put their own legislation on the ballot, dr. Direct democracy origin of the species special report. Direct democracy, made possible by the internet, has given a new centrality to citizens and will ultimately lead to the deconstruction of the current political and social organizations. What are some of the best books on direct democracy.
The history of direct democracy amongst nonnative americans in the united states dates from. Kobach states at the end of his book, too often, observers deem switzerland an oddity among political systems. And yet especially in california theres a big debate about reforming direct democracy. Californias recall and beyond mark baldassare, cheryl katz on. Direct democracy research american library association. California historysocial science framework grade one one another. Throughout our nations history, citizens and legislators alike have used ballot measures to shape public policy and public. Rome displayed many aspects of democracy, both direct and indirect, from the era of roman monarchy all the way to the collapse of the roman empire. Youth, and direct democracy by temma kaplan university of california press, 2004. However, the history of initiative and referendum in california began long before this method of creating legislation was ratified on october 10, 1911. To date, citizens initiatives have led to around 350 referendums each in california and oregon. The history democracy derailed begins with addressing the evolution of the initiative. Gray davis is the first governor in the history of california, and only the second governor in the history of the united states, ever to face such a recall election.
Recent years have witnessed a resurgence of direct democracy, particularly in california, where ballot questions and propositions have addressed such volatile issues as gay rights and affirmative action. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. They must receive explanations of these implications in terms that they understand. Renovating democracy university of california press. Download democracy in california in pdf and epub formats for free.
Also relevant to the history of direct democracy is the history of ancient rome, specifically the roman republic, traditionally beginning around 509 bc. Or is it, instead, an example of direct democracy run amok. A century ago, direct democracy referendums, the recall of elected officials, and citizen initiated laws played. South dakota 1897, oregon 1902, california 1911, arizona 1912 direct democracy has a long history in some of the american states, and its actively used. How state government responds to direct democracy elisabeth r. Direct democracy included the idea that voters should choose u. California progressives and the origins of direct democracy. Between 1898 and 1918, many american states introduced the initiative, referendum, and recallknown collectively as direct democracy. Sacramento one of the most farreaching ideas advanced by 20th century progressives was the reemergence of direct democracy. Direct democracy in california democracy international e. Yet the power of the democratic idea has prevailed through a long and turbulent history, and democratic government. In california for instance, not only has direct democracy existed at the state level since. All commentary contained on this site under the issues below is from daniel b.
Direct democracy generally, and in california other sets by this creator. Bowler and donovan discuss the history of direct democracy in the united states with a particular. Interest group influence in the california initiative process, philip l. Challenging the common assumption that models of direct democracy and representative democracy are necessarily at odds, direct democracy worldwide demonstrates how practices of direct and representative democracy interact under different institutional settings and uncovers the conditions that allow them to coexist in a mutually reinforcing manner. Athenian democracy was a direct democracy made up of three important institutions. Aron quoted the late kevin starr, the renowned author of numerous books about california history. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. History of initiative and referendum in california ballotpedia. Democracy may be a word familiar to most, but it is a concept still misunderstood and misused at a time when dictators, singleparty regimes, and military coup leaders alike assert popular support by claiming the mantle of democracy. Lessons from california the perils of extreme democracy. Ironically, california imported direct democracy almost a century ago as a safety valve in case government should become corrupt. A democracy is a political system, or a system of decisionmaking within an institution or organization or a country, in which all members have an equal share of power. But too many direct democracies resemble californias, where the. Opinion, voting, and direct democracy shaun bowler, todd andrew donovan 2000 the initiative and referendum in california, 18981998 john m.
Gray davis and election of former actor arnold schwarzenegger in 2003. Democracy in california, fifth edition janiskee, brian p. The best book for me was thinking, fast and slow wikipedia which surveys the field of how people make decisions. The idea behind the list, books to be an informed voter, is definitely great. Direct democracy in california was meant to bring the people into the governance process, but voters have become consumers of television soundbite campaigns. However, the history of initiative and referendum in california began long. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Democracy in california book also available for read online, mobi, docx and mobile and kindle reading. In 1895, haynes helped found the california branch of the direct legislation. Californias version of direct democracy has led to some of the golden states most notable and infamous policies, such as proposition, medical marijuana legalization, the death penalty, and californias abbreviated period of banning samesex. Whatever your political party or affiliation in the us, you need to read some of these. Also relevant to the history of direct democracy is the history of ancient rome, specifically the roman republic. Measuring the effects of direct democracy on state policy. Kcra, at 100, california direct democracy gets facelift, october 10, 2011.
The term is derived from the greek demokratia, which was coined in the 5th century bce to denote the political systems of some greek citystates, notably athens. This article surveys the origins of direct democracy in californias progressive movement and traces its history up to the 1970s. Jefferson memorial lecture by california legal history. The 20th century is the century of democracy, argue jos verhulst and arjen nijeboer. Most interpreters have seen the motives for these reform measures as purely political, but thomas goebel demonstrates that the call for direct democracy was deeply rooted in antimonopoly sentiment. Students of democracy will find this book especially valuable for its account of the democratic ideal as a concept in the history of political thought, ranging. These democracies, which combine elements of representative democracy and direct democracy, are termed hybrid democracies, semidirect democracies or participatory democracies. Modern democracies are characterized by two capabilities that differentiate them fundamentally from earlier forms of government. Lessons from the united states but, warns todd donovan, the american experience shows that more democratic is not always better. Pdf download democracy in california free unquote books. The case of california however, for direct democracy to work, those called upon to vote on an issue must understand the implications of the decision proposed. Voting on whether or not to make a new law is direct democracy. Shaun bowler, department of political science, university of california, riverside direct democracy and the courts is a timely and important contribution, unveiling the inherent tension between popular sovereignty as expressed by citizen lawmakers and the countermajoritarian check of the judiciary.
Teachers may illustrate a direct democracy and a representative democracy by. California is a democratic republic consisting of three branches of government. Unified by the theme of democracy as autonomycommunal, plural, and individualthe study examines democratic government and politics in normative, institutional, and procedural terms. In this book they rebut the critical arguments against direct democracy and show that direct democracy leads to societies with responsiblyacting citizens. I can think of some titles i would add, which i will come back later and put in.
Published letters list the founders name and town at the end of each letter. The system of direct democracy in california started in the early 1900s, when many californians were unhappy with their states government. Frustrated with the governmental corruption and favoritism that. Direct democracy or pure democracy is a form of democracy in which people decide on policy.
How state government responds to direct democracy, elisabeth r. This is but to be expected, given the tremendous differences in history. The dangers of direct democracy have been studied for centuries. For example, when the map is hung upright, the supermarket is still. History of initiative and referendum in california. Is it time to reconsider californias initiative system.
1117 1346 1650 517 192 1425 876 922 162 920 363 397 1250 1664 546 1271 1529 218 717 244 1052 15 528 855 1111 1590 69 870 91 514 1371 1192 1415 798 782 1457 659 865 1345 420 208 457 408