Which of the following best describes how the recall, referendum and initiative provisions give power to?

From Ballotpedia

Ballot BasicsAmendmentsStatutesAdvisory questionAutomatic ballot referralBond issueCombinedCommission referredRecallVeto referendum

Citizen initiatives Indirect initiative Legislative referrals Convention referrals

Citizen initiatives Indirect initiative Legislative referrals

Measures by topicMeasures by yearMeasures by state

In the United States, a ballot measure is a law, issue, or question that appears on a statewide or local ballot for voters of the jurisdiction to decide.

This page provides an overview of the different types of ballot measures in the U.S., which can be (a) placed on the ballot through citizen initiative petitions; (b) referred to the ballot by the state legislature or local government body; or (c) automatically placed on the ballot with no action from a legislature or governing body via a state law or constitutional provision requiring such a ballot measure.

Types of ballot measures

Citizen-initiated measures:

• Combined initiated amendment and statute
• Indirect initiated constitutional amendment
• Indirect initiated state statute
• Initiated constitutional amendment
• Initiated state statute
• Veto referendum

Legislatively referred measures:

• Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
• Legislatively referred state statute
• Legislatively referred bond question

Other:

• Advisory question (nonbinding; does not result in a new, changed, or repealed law or constitutional provision)
• Automatic ballot referral (not initiated or referred; automatically set to appear on the ballot)
• Commission referral (referred by commission, not legislature)
• Convention referred constitutional amendment (referred by constitutional convention, not legislature)

Ballot measures in the United States

There have been statewide ballot measures in each of the 50 states. Citizens can collect signatures to place measures on the ballot in 26 states. Every state but Delaware requires voters to ratify proposed state constitutional amendments—changes to a state's constitution. The following map illustrates which states provide for a ballot initiative or veto referendum process.

Citizen-initiated ballot measures

See also: States with initiative or referendum

Citizens can collect signatures to place laws on the ballot in 26 states. There are various types of citizen-initiated ballot measures, which are outlined in the following sections.

Ballot initiatives may take the form of either the direct or indirect initiative. Under the direct initiative, a measure is put directly to a vote after enough signatures are submitted. Under the indirect initiative, a measure is first referred to the state legislature, and then only put to a popular vote if not enacted by the legislature.

Initiated amendment

See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends the state constitution. Of the 26 states that provide some form of initiative, 18 states allow for citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Massachusetts and Mississippi, the initiated constitutional amendment is indirect, meaning the proposal goes to the legislature before going to voters. In Massachusetts, the legislature must approve the constitutional amendment for the measure to appear on the ballot. In Mississippi, the legislature's action does not affect whether or not the measure appears on the ballot; however, the Mississippi State Legislature is given the option to provide a competing measure alongside the citizen-initiated one.

In Nevada, a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment must be voted on and approved at two successive general elections to become part of the state constitution.

To read about the different requirements for constitutional amendments in various states, click here.

Initiated statute

See also: Initiated state statute

An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. Of the 26 states that provide some form of initiative, 21 states allow for citizens to initiate state statutes.

Seven of the 21 states provide for indirect, but not direct, citizen-initiated state statutes. An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative themselves, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot. In Utah and Washington, citizens can use either a direct or indirect initiated state statute.

Combined initiated amendment and statute

See also: Combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute

In California and Colorado, citizens have the option of initiating a combined constitutional amendment and state statute. The ballot measure is allowed to contain constitutional and statutory provisions that are related to a single subject.

Veto referendum

See also: Veto referendum

A veto referendum is a type of citizen-initiated ballot measure that asks voters whether to uphold or repeal a law that was passed by the state legislature. Of the 26 states that provide some form of initiative, 23 states allow for citizens to initiate veto referendums. In Maryland and New Mexico, the only form of citizen initiative available to residents are veto referendums.

Statute affirmation (Nevada)

See also: Statute affirmation

In Nevada, voters have the power to initiate a statute affirmation. Like a veto referendum, a statute affirmation places a law that was already passed on the ballot. Passage of a statute affirmation prohibits the legislature from amending the law without voter approval.

Local citizen-initiated measures

There are local ballot measure analogs to the types of measures outlined above.

• A citizen-initiated charter amendment is analogous to a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment.
• A citizen-initiated ordinance is analogous to a citizen-initiated state statute.
• A veto referendum of an ordinance is analogous to state statute veto referendums.

Legislative referrals

The legislatures of each state have the power to refer measures to the ballot.

Referred amendment

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

Every state but Delaware requires voters to ratify proposed state constitutional amendments—changes to a state's constitution—at a statewide election. The main differences in the requirements for a legislature to refer a constitutional amendment are (a) the number of times that the legislature must vote on the amendment and (b) the size of the legislative vote.

Referred statute

See also: Legislatively referred state statute

Legislatures have the option to refer statutes to the ballot as well. There are types of statutes that are often required to appear on the ballot in some states, such as tax increases (specifically in Colorado under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights) and bond issues.

In Arizona and California, bills that would amend voter-approved initiatives must be referred to the ballot. In Montana, the legislature can refer a statute to the ballot without the governor's signature.

Local referrals

At the local level, most government types can refer questions to voters. Many involve tax, bond, or revenue questions as required by state law. Referrals are most often sent to the ballot by the following government entities:

• city/town councils
• county boards
• school boards
• special district boards
• Local Agency Formation Commissions

Other

Advisory question

See also: Advisory question

An advisory question is a type of ballot measure in which citizens vote on a non-binding question. The difference between an advisory vote and any other type of ballot measure is that the outcome of the advisory question will not result in a new, changed, repealed, or rejected law or constitutional amendment. Rather, advisory questions allow voters to voice their preference and allow the state legislature or local government to gauge public opinion on the issue being presented.

Commission referrals

See also: Commission-referred ballot measure

There are several state commissions that have the power to refer measures to the ballot. In Florida, the Constitution Revision Commission and Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which convene every 20 years, can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot. In Arizona, the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers can refer statutes addressing salaries for elected officials.

Automatic referrals

An automatic ballot referral is a ballot measure that is set under state law or a state's constitution to automatically appear as a statewide ballot question under certain circumstances. The most common types of automatic ballot referrals are Constitutional Convention questions. Constitutional convention ballot propositions are a form of automatic ballot referral in some states whose constitutions state that every so often, a statewide ballot proposition must be placed on the general election ballot asking the voters of the state if they wish to have a constitutional convention. In fourteen states, the question of whether to hold a constitutional convention is automatically referred to a statewide ballot without any requirement for a vote of the state legislature to place the question on the ballot.

Convention referralsSee also: Convention referred constitutional amendment

When a state constitutional convention occurs, the delegates to such a convention can pass multiple changes to the state constitution for voter ratification. In fourteen states, the question of whether to hold a constitutional convention is automatically referred to the statewide ballot without any requirement for a vote of the state legislature to place the question on the ballot.

Number of statewide ballot measures

The following table illustrates the number of measures (initiatives, legislative referrals, and other types) on state ballots each year since 2000.

Total measures since 2000 Year Initiatives Legislative referrals Other measures Total

2020	43	81	5	129
2019	2	22	12	36
2018	68	75	24	167
2017	4	19	4	27
2016	76	71	15	162
2015	5	17	6	28
2014	40	111	7	158
2013	3	24	5	31
2012	63	122	3	188
2011	12	22	0	34
2010	50	130	4	184
2009	8	24	0	32
2008	74	92	8	174
2007	4	39	1	44
2006	83	140	3	226
2005	19	26	0	45
2004	65	107	1	173
2003	7	60	1	68
2002	55	162	6	223
2001	4	35	0	39
2000	82	151	2	235
Even-year averages	66	116	7	184
Odd-year averages	13	38	2	38

See also

• Forms of direct democracy in the American states
• List of ballot measures by topic
• List of ballot measures by year
• List of ballot measures by state
• Laws governing ballot measures
• States with initiative or referendum
• States without initiative or referendum
• States with initiated statutes only
• States with veto referendum only
• States that allow initiated constitutional amendments
• List of ballot measures by state

Footnotes

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Statewide ballot measures

State	A • Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • C • California • Colorado • Connecticut • F • Florida • G • Georgia • H • Hawaii • I • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • K • Kansas • Kentucky • L • Louisiana • M • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • N • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • O • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • P • Pennsylvania • R • Rhode Island • S • South Carolina • South Dakota • T • Tennessee • Texas • U • Utah • V • Vermont • Virginia • W • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
By topic	A • Abortion • Admin of gov't • Affirmative action • Alcohol • Animal rights • Assisted death • B • Bonds • Budgets • Business regulation • C • Campaigns • Civil rights • Constitutional conventions • Constitutional language • County government • D • Daylight Saving Time • Death penalty • Direct democracy • E • Earthquakes • Education • Elections • Eminent domain • English • Environment • Executives • F • Federal constitutional issues • Firearms • G • Gambling • Government accountability • H • Healthcare • Housing • Hunting • I • Immigration • Insurance • J • State judiciary • L • LGBT • Labor • Law enforcement • Legislatures • M • Marijuana • Marriage • Minimum wage • Mottos • Municipal government • N • Natural resources • P • Pensions • Property • Public finance • R • Recall • Redistricting • Race and ethnicity • Religion • Rules about Sunday • S • Salaries of elected officials • Smoking bans • State budgets • State executives • State judiciary • State legislatures • Stem cells • Supermajority requirements • Sundays • T • Taxes • Tobacco • Transportation • U • Unions • Utilities • V • Veterans • W • Wages • War and peace • Water • Welfare
By type	Advisory vote • Automatic referral • Bond measure • Commission referral • Constitutional amendment (by initiative) • Constitutional amendment (referred by legislature) • Grand Jury Panels • State statute (by initiative) • State statute (referred by legislature) • Veto referendums Forms of direct democracy in the American states
By year	2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1998 • 1997 • 1996 • 1995 • 1994 • 1993 • 1992 • 1991 • 1990 • 1989 • 1988 • 1987 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984 • 1983 • 1982 • 1981 • 1980 • 1979 • 1978 • 1977 • 1976 • 1975 • 1974 • 1973 • 1972 • 1971 • 1970 • 1969 • 1968 • 1967 • 1966 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1954 • 1953 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949 • 1948 • 1947 • 1946 • 1945 • 1944 • 1943 • 1942 • 1941 • 1940 • 1939 • 1938 • 1937 • 1936 • 1935 • 1934 • 1933 • 1932 • 1931 • 1930 • 1929 • 1928 • 1927 • 1926 • 1925 • 1924 • 1923 • 1922 • 1921 • 1920 • 1919 • 1918 • 1917 • 1916 • 1915 • 1914 • 1913 • 1912 • 1911 • 1910 • 1909 • 1908 • 1907 • 1906 • 1905 • 1904 • 1903 • 1902 • 1901 • 1900
Other	State Ballot Measure Monthly reports • Features of official voter guides • Ballot measures cost per required signatures analysis • 2022 ballot measure campaign finance • 2022 ballot language readability analysis

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Types of ballot measures

General terms	Initiated state statute • Initiated constitutional amendment • Indirect initiative • Indirect initiated state statute • Indirect initiative amendment • Indirect initiative • Legislative referral • Legislatively referred state statute • Legislatively referred constitutional amendment • Commission referral • Automatic ballot referral • Veto referendum • Constitutional convention • Convention referral • Bond issue • Recall • Advisory question
State-specific terms	Bond Propositions (California) • Initiatives to the Legislature (Washington) • Initiatives to the People (Washington) • Referendum Bill (Washington) • Statute affirmation (Nevada) • Referendum Election (Navajo Nation)
Local terms	City council ballot referral • Initiated city charter amendment • Initiated city ordinance • Grand jury • Redevelopment and Housing Authority Referendum (Virginia) • Reverse referendum (Minnesota) • Tax rate recall referendum (Kentucky)

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