What is the difference between referendum and initiative

Propositions are the proposed legislation for either the initiative or the referendum. As excerpted from Legal Research in California 5th ed. The ballot propositions "are prosed either by the Legislature or by citizens.

Propositions from the Legislature are adopted like other legislative measures. The Initiative and Referendum Institute , a non-profit educational organization that provides explanation of the initiative and referendum, offer three general fact sheets:. Research tools and publications are provided in appendices. Georgetown Law Library Guides U. Search this Guide Search. California Resources This State Guide provides an in-depth look at sources of law within the state of California.

This method requires a roll call vote in the Legislature with two-thirds of the members of each house concurring; Convention to revise constitution. To convene a constitutional convention also requires a roll call vote in the Legislature with two-thirds of each house's membership concurring.

Any amendment proposed by the convention may then be submitted to the voters at a general election; or Initiative. The electors may amend the Constitution by initiative.

To be included on the ballot a Constitutional amendment initiative requires a petition to be submitted to the Secretary of State with certified signatures of 8-percent of the total vote for all candidates for Governor at the most recent gubernatorial election. An Initiative Statue requires 5-percent of the total vote for all candidates for Governor at the most recent gubernatorial election.

If the signature requirements are met, the initiative shall then be placed on the next general election ballot held at least days after its qualification or at any special statewide election held prior to that general election. The Initiative and Referendum Institute , a non-profit educational organization that provides explanation of the initiative and referendum, offer three general fact sheets: What are Ballot Propositions, Initiatives, and Referendums The History of Initiative and Referendum in the United States State by State List of Initiatives and Referendum Provisions.

The National Citizens Initiative for Democracy specifies a procedure that incorporates the best of direct and indirect initiative. Like direct initiatives, the incumbent legislature is not involved in drafting an initiative. Like indirect initiatives, a deliberative committee is convened see Democracy Act, 3-I to receive testimony from all stakeholders and to rewrite the initiative incorporating feedback and compromise. Skip to content Posted June 13th, by jpritikin Types of referendum and initiative include: Referendum — The legislature refers a piece of legislation to the people to either approve or reject it by vote.

Compulsory referendum — Typically new constitutions must be submitted to the people for approval before they are considered ratified. Some states also require that bond measures be approved by referendum. Voluntary referendum — The legislature may, at their option, refer a piece of legislation to the people. Popular referendum — The people may challenge a law recently passed by the legislature.

For statutes, 11 states allow direct initiatives for statutes, seven allow indirect initiatives, and two states Utah and Washington allow both direct and indirect initiatives. A referendum sometimes "popular referendum" is a proposal to repeal a law that was previously enacted by the legislature, and that is placed on the ballot by citizen petition. A total of 24 states permit referendums, most of them states that also permit initiatives.

Although the Progressives considered the referendum as important as the initiative, in practice, referendums are fairly rare, especially compared to initiatives. A legislative measure or legislative proposition or sometimes "referred" measure is a proposal placed on the ballot by the legislature.

All states permit legislative measures list and all states except for Delaware require constitutional amendments to be approved by the voters at large. In some states, legislatures place nonbinding advisory measures on the ballot.