Direct Democracy
Direct Democracy in State Court: Judicial Approaches to Ballot Initiative Conflicts
Allie Boldt, Legal Research Director Published: August 9, 2024 Link to PDF Introduction In roughly half of U.S. states, state constitutions confer rights of direct democracy, allowing the people to make law directly through statutes …
Bryna Godar on WBAY: Staff Attorney Godar breaks down the potential outcomes of two proposed constitutional amendments on Wisconsin’s August ballot.
Derek Clinger in Bolts: Senior Staff Attorney discusses national implications of major direct democracy rulings from the Michigan and Utah Supreme Courts.
Michigan Supreme Court Strikes Down Legislature’s Attempt to Thwart State’s Direct Democracy Power
Derek Clinger, Senior Staff Attorney Published: July 31, 2024 PDF Available Here Today, in a highly anticipated decision, the Michigan Supreme Court held that the Michigan Legislature violated the state constitution when it used a …
Explainer: The Proposed Constitutional Amendments on Federal Funding Appearing on Wisconsin’s August Primary Ballot
Bryna Godar, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here In August, Wisconsin voters will see two proposed state constitutional amendments on their ballots, both aimed at increasing the legislature’s role in allocating federal funds received by the …
Miriam Seifter on KQED: Faculty Co-Director Seifter discusses how state courts and constitutions are shaping rights in the United States.
Explainer: Shaping Democracy: 2023’s Statewide Ballot Measures and What Lies Ahead in 2024
Derek Clinger, Senior Staff Attorney PDF Available Here The past year saw a continued trend of increased interest in direct democracy, with the highest number of statewide ballot measures for an odd-numbered election year in …
The Yale Law Journal Forum: “The Right to Amend State Constitutions” by Jessica Bulman-Pozen & Miriam Seifter
This Essay explores the people’s right to amend state constitutions, particularly in states that recognize the constitutional initiative. Together with other democratic rights that appear in state constitutions but not the federal charter, the right to amend recognizes popular sovereignty as an active commitment.
Direct Democracy in the States
This Report surveys current state laws affecting direct democracy, with an emphasis on those relating to voter participation and understanding. For instance, what information appears on the ballot, and who prepares it? What standards exist, …