Author Question: What is a referendum? Why might a legislator want to call for a referendum? What will be an ideal ... (Read 73 times)

jayhills49 · **on:** Jul 10, 2018

What is a referendum? Why might a legislator want to call for a referendum?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is a mid-term election? What effect can mid-term elections have on the president's party in Congress?

What will be an ideal response?

cupcake16 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 10, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Define a referendum as an election wherein the state legislature proposes legislation and constitutional amendments directly to the voters for their approval.
2. Explain how a legislator might use the referendum process to put the responsibility on the voters for enacting controversial issues such as tax increases.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Explain that a mid-term election is a congressional election in the middle of a presidential term.
2. Explain that the president's party usually loses seats in mid-term elections due to public disaffection or governing challenges that tend to hurt a president's popularity.
3. Explain that voters are especially likely to punish a president's party in the sixth year of a two-term presidency. For example, the loss of several Senate seats in 2014 gave Republicans a majority in both the House and Senate.