1. A2 G&P
US Government and Politics
Propositions, Referendums and Recall

2. UNIT 3A : OUTLINE: KEY CONCEPTS
KEY CONCEPTS
 Open, closed and invisible primaries
 The caucus system
 The balanced ticket
 Candidate and issue centred campaigns
 Momentum
 Soft and hard money
 Negative campaigning
 Insider and outsider candidates
 Fixed terms
 Swing states

3. OUTLINE: KEY IDEAS
Answering questions on this topic requires
knowledge of:
 The main characteristics of presidential and
congressional elections and campaigns.
 The main influences on their outcomes.
 Candidate selection and nomination through the
primary and caucus system and the role of the
national nominating conventions
 Debates concerning the workings and outcomes of
the Electoral College and its impact on campaigns

4. OUTLINE: KEY IDEAS
Answering questions on this topic requires
knowledge of:
 The significance of money as a factor in electoral
success.
 The impact of the media on campaigns and candidates
 Direct democracy at State level through the use
of referendums
 Initiatives, propositions and recall elections,
and debates concerning their use
 Comparisons with the UK electoral process to illustrate
arguments

5. Propositions and Initiatives
 Propositions is a way that citizens in some states can
change laws or amend the state constitution without
having to wait for the state legislature to do so.
 In states like California, laws can be proposed directly
by the people, as can constitutional amendments.
 When citizens propose an amendment to a law or to
the state Constitution it is called an initiative.

6. Propositions and Initiatives
 In California it is possible to propose to overturn a law
through a petition that contains signatures of at least
5% of the number who voted in the last governor
elections.
 If the right number of signatures is present then the
proposal to change the law is put to the people.
 If more than 50% of those who vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ agree
then the proposition become law.

7. Propositions and Initiatives
 In California, it is important that the ‘yes’ vote is larger
than the ‘no’ vote for something to change and for this
reason the 50% majority is only made up from those
who actually vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Spoilt ballots are not
counted in the quota.
 Examples of California propositions include the right
of same sex couples to marry (2008) to the treatment
of farm animals (2008).

8. Propositions and Initiatives
 One important measure in 2010 was Proposition 14
which removed primary elections from that state.
 Propositions through initiatives and referendums
represent an additional form of direct democracy in
several US states.

9. Proposition 14
The End of Primaries in California?
 It was not widely noticed at the time, but California’s
Proposition 14 voted that party primaries in that state
would be replaced in 2011 with more open elections.
 The two candidates with the highest votes – whatever
the party – would face a general election. This could
well encourage more third party candidates and higher
turnout.

10. Recall Elections
 Recall elections are a procedure by which voters can
opt to remove an office holder before the next
scheduled elections.
 In some states like Alaska and Montana it is necessary
to have proof of wrong-doing.
 In fact, only two state governors have ever been
recalled and one of those led to the election of Arnold
Swarzenegger as Governor of California in 2003.

11. Recall Elections
 Most recalls have led to the removal of state legislature
members, but the numbers have not been large.

12. Examples of Elected Posts for
State and Local Government
CALIFORNIA (divided into 58 counties)
 Governor – four year term, limited to two terms.
 Executive includes a Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of
State and a Treasurer.
 State Legislature – two houses (Assembly and Senate)
 Assembly – 80 representatives, two year term, limited to
three. It has speaker, Majority and Minority leaders.
 Senate – 40 senators, serving four year terms, limit of
2, elected in two cycles. Led by President and had
majority/minority leaders.
 Supreme Court – seven justices – 12 year terms.