Direct Democracy: The Politics of Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

by Thomas E. Cronin

A decade ago, as we celebrated the bicentennial of the U.S. Constitutions ratification, we were mindful that the founding fathers were fearful of direct democracy; virtuous representatives were to be at the center of the new political experiment. Ballot democracy, populist democracy, democracy by initiative, referendum, and recallhowever one labels itis only one hundred years old in the United States and has been in and out of fashion during that time. At the writing of this book there was a resurgence of interest in new kinds of forces trying to overturn legislative and executive fiat by direct ballot. In this book Thomas Cronin suggests why this is so, how it is working, and what should be done. Cronin examines the use of the initiative and referendum offered in twenty-six states over the yearsincluding some very difficult issues such as tax caps on spending, the death penalty, pornography, prayer in schools, abortion and homosexual rightsand he makes sense out of the sponsors motives and the voters reactions. Through the analysis of hundreds of reports, studies, hearings, polls, and interviews that cover the country from Maine to California, he provides evidence to assess the state of participatory democracywhat happens when people decide to take charge after they perceive that their elected officials have failed to understand them.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

President Emeritus Whitman College

Reviews

[Zayne Sember · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough, if slightly outdated, survey of the history and effectiveness of direct democracy at the local, state, and federal levels.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a number of tools for what is called direct democracy (Page vii), ". . .devices created to give voters a greater direct voice in our democracy--referendum, initiative, recall. . . ." Thomas Cronin has authored a clear headed analysis of these tools of democracy. First, some definitions are needed.

Referendum is when voters vote on some proposed principle and, in essence, pass something into law. California voters have "passed" laws over the years that restrict property tax increases and so on. Initiative is the mechanism by which voters can propose and get items up for a referendum. In that sense, they can propose legislation upon which they will then vote (all of this is way oversimplified). Recall? Voters can kick elected officials out of office. As of the time this book was published. some states allowed all three (e.g., California, Alaska, Colorado); others were much less generous in their accepting these tools of direct democracy (among states that allow for none of the three tools of direct democracy--Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota).

The book begins with good discussions of the pluses and minuses of representative democracy versus direct democracy, setting the stage for what follows. Subsequent chapters address the capability of citizens to make direct democracy work, the effect of direct democracy on various minority groupings, the role of money, and so on. The final part of the book provides a sensible analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of direct democracy.

All in all, a solid analysis of the role of the people in the governing process. If you are interested in direct democracy, this is one good starting point.

[Liz Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cronin offers a nice summary of the tools of direct democracy. I wonder whether he would still say that minority rights are not in danger, after the spate of anti-gay marriage initiatives in 2004?