Civics Lesson 2.5 Direct Democracy Tuesday, March 18

Lesson 2.5 Direct Democracy in Michigan

Tuesday, March 18

​Lesson 2.5 Direct Democracy

C – 3.2.6 Describe and evaluate referendums, initiatives, and recall as mechanisms used to influence state and local government. Use a case study to examine the impact of one such listed mechanism.

Participatory democracy (sometimes called direct democracy) is the idea that everyone should be, and can be, involved in politics.

It emphasizes broad participation in politics and encourages ordinary people —not just a small subset of the population— to be responsible for political decisions.

​All political power is inherent
in the people.

​Michigan

In the US, the terms initiative and referendum refer to processes that allow citizens of states to vote on particular pieces of legislation.

• The initiative process allows citizens to propose a new statute or constitutional amendment.

• The referendum process allows citizens to refer a law that passed the legislature to the ballot for voters to decide whether to uphold or repeal the law.

​Michigan

The initiative for which Michigan is most famous is the "Bottle Bill," approved by a two to one margin in 1976, which put a 10-cent deposit on bottles and cans.

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​Bottle Bill

​Bottle Bill

​Michigan

A political recall is the process by which citizens can remove elected officials from office before their term is completed.

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​There are ten questions on the next ten slides. The number you answer correctly will be recorded in PowerSchool.

Multiple Choice

This is a special election used to remove an elected official before his or her term is expired

• referendum

• initiative

• recall

• direct primary

Multiple Choice

All elected officers in Michigan, except for _____, may be subject to recall by the voters of their districts. An officer who is the subject of a recall election may continue to perform the duties of their office until the result of the recall election is certified.

• judges

• senators

• school superintendents

• county sheriffs

Multiple Choice

When voters have the power to reject undesirable laws, this is called ______ .

• referendum

• petition

• constituent

• initiative

Multiple Choice

Why would a direct democracy be difficult in the United States?

• Lack of public interest
• Our massive population
• Technology is not available
• The countries relatively small size

Multiple Choice

What is the term for a procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to the state constitution?

• Initiative

• Referendum

• Recall

• Statutes

Multiple Choice

A direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal, usually a piece of legislation.

• Referendum

• Intiative

• Recall

• Primary

Multiple Choice

A way for people to vote directly on a proposed new law already approved by the state legislature

• Recall

• Referendum

• Initiative

• Primary

Multiple Choice

What is the term given when citizens are able to collect signatures to have a bill proposed on the ballot?

• Initiative

• Referedum

• Recall

• Statutes

Multiple Choice

An electoral procedure whereby citizens can propose legislation or constitutional amendments and refer the decision to a popular vote.

• Referendum
• Recall
• Initiative
• Primary

Multiple Choice

A procedure that allows citizens to remove and replace a public official before the end of a term of office

• referendum

• recall

• initiative

• primary