Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/729

 THE AMERICAN

JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

VOLUME X MAY, IQ05 NUMBER 6

THE POPULAR INITIATIVE AS A METHOD OF LEGISLATION AND POLITICAL CONTROL

The popular initiative is usually referred to under the dual title of " the initiative and referendum." Its advocates treat of it as an extension of the referendum; its promotion is largely through the agitation of referendum leagues; and for these rea- sons the two terms seem to be generally, although erroneously, regarded as synonymous.

It is the object of this paper to show the difference between the initiative power and the referendum, and to point out the revolutionary principle imbedded in the initiative as advocated by its propagandists for adoption in the United States.

The scheme of the initiative includes : ( I ) " direct legislation " (the proposal of laws by petition and the adoption of them by majority vote) ; (2) the " veto of the people " (the submission by petition of laws passed by legislative bodies to the voters for sanc- tion or rejection) ; (3) the "recall/' or imperative mandate, by which through petition a faction, being displeased with the action of a public official, may require him to go before the voters again at any time against another candidate for the office, and if the official fails to receive a majority of the votes, he is dismissed, and the opponent holds the office for the remainder of the term.

The "recall" and the "veto" are the negative side of the general plan for substituting government by petition and the popular voice for government by representation.

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