Author Question: Explain how constitutional initiative petitions are used to amend state constitutions. What will ... (Read 103 times)

KWilfred · **on:** Jul 9, 2018

Explain how constitutional initiative petitions are used to amend state constitutions.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Define federalism.

What will be an ideal response?

maya.nigrin17@yahoo.com · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 9, 2018

Answer to Question 1

An ideal response would be:
At the end of the nineteenth century, revelations of corruption diminished the prestige of state governments, especially state legislatures. From this disillusionment and the Progressive Movement came a variety of reforms. Among them was the constitutional initiative petition, a device that permits voters to place specific constitutional amendments on the ballot by petition. Eighteen states allow amendments to their constitutions to be proposed by initiative petitions.
Constitutional initiative petition isa device that permits voters to place specific amendments to a state constitution on the ballot by petition.
The number of signatures required on petitions varies from 4 to 15 percent of either the total electorate or the number who voted in the last election. Although it takes more signatures to propose a constitutional amendment than to place other kinds of initiatives on the ballot, the higher threshold is no longer a significant impediment to well-financed special-interest groups. Once the appropriate state official (attorney general or secretary of state) approves the precise wording of a petition, the amendment goes on the ballot at the next general election. (California allows initiatives to appear even on primary election ballots.)

Answer to Question 2

An ideal response would be:
Federalism refers to a constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and states, which are sometimes called provinces in other nations. The national and state governments exercise direct authority over individuals.