Question 1

Which is NOT an example of a tax limitation measure?
A)California's Proposition 13 (1978)
B)Oregon's Measure 5 (1990)
C)Indiana's Question 3 (2004)
D)Colorado's TABOR amendment (1992)

Accepted Answer

Indiana's Question 3 (2004) is not a tax limitation measure; it was a constitutional amendment related to the definition of marriage, not taxation.

Question 2

Initiated laws passed by voters
A)take precedence over any other laws passed by the legislature.
B)cannot be challenged in court,but must be "reviewed,rewritten,and repassed" if any contradictions arise.
C)must be consistent with the state and the U.S.constitutions,like any other law.
D)must go through a waiting period before they are formally enacted.

Accepted Answer

Initiated laws passed by voters must adhere to both the state and the U.S. Constitutions, just like any other law. This ensures that all laws, regardless of their origin, comply with the overarching legal frameworks of the state and the country.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT true regarding voter decisions on ballot measures?
A)Voters tend to use easily available "shortcuts" for information.
B)As ballot measures are mainly put forth by citizens and not politicians,partisanship is not a reliable predictor of how people will vote.
C)The availability of information shortcuts may explain why there are few examples of initiatives passing that are later found to be unpopular with the voters who approved them.
D)In some states,official state agencies mail every registered voter a pamphlet listing each ballot proposal with arguments for and against it.

Accepted Answer

Partisanship can still significantly influence how people vote on ballot measures, even though these measures are often initiated by citizens. Voters may rely on party cues or endorsements when making decisions on these issues, especially in a polarized political environment.

Question 4

When economic interest groups spend in favor of their own initiatives,they
A)are mostly successful in getting their measures passed.
B)usually lose.
C)have a greater advantage over broad-based citizen groups.
D)tend to win,even if voters show clear opposition for their measures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When economic interest groups spend in favor...

Question 5

Who is more likely to view TV and radio as the most influential media source in ballot measure campaigns?
A)Consultants
B)Voters
C)Politicians
D)The news media

Accepted Answer

Consultants are more likely to view TV and radio as the most influential media sources in ballot measure campaigns because they often rely on these mediums to reach a wide audience effectively and shape public opinion.

Question 6

In 2006,voters in Florida approved a legislative referendum requiring all subsequent ballot measures to receive at least of the popular vote in order to be approved.
A)50 percent
B)60 percent
C)65 percent
D)75 percent

Accepted Answer

In 2006, Florida voters approved a legislative referendum that requires all subsequent ballot measures to receive at least 60 percent of the popular vote in order to be approved.

Question 7

Supporters of direct democracy suggest that when voters are allowed to make direct choices on policies at the ballot,they
A)can adopt laws that their state legislatures refuse to enact.
B)often replicate the ones made by their elected officials.
C)usually adopt the same laws their state legislature would adopt.
D)tend to reinforce the status quo.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Supporters of direct democracy suggest that when...

Question 8

Regarding direct democracy,most people feel that
A)they can trust the campaigns put forth by measure proponents.
B)the system avoids special interest domination.
C)campaign expenditures are too high.
D)there are not enough citizen initiatives being used.

Accepted Answer

Most people feel that campaign expenditures in direct democracy are too high, reflecting concerns about the influence of money in politics and the cost of running campaigns for ballot measures.

Question 9

Regarding whether money matters in initiative campaigns,some studies have shown that
A)a dollar spent by the "No" campaign has almost twice as much impact on the eventual vote share than a dollar spent by the "Yes" campaign.
B)spending by proponents is more effective when compared to spending against ballot measures.
C)narrow economic groups are regularly defeated by initiatives,such as environmental regulations or consumer protections.
D)economic interests are mostly successful at using initiatives to "buy" public policy.

Accepted Answer

Studies indicate that spending by the "No" campaign is more effective, suggesting that it is easier to persuade voters to reject an initiative than to support a new proposal.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT one of the four basic steps in the initiative process that most states share?
A)The proposal is drafted by proponents.
B)A state official issues an official title and summary of the measure.
C)Proponents circulate petitions for voters to sign.
D)A citizen commission verifies whether a valid number of signatures are collected.

Accepted Answer

The correct steps in the initiative process typically involve drafting the proposal, getting an official title and summary, and circulating petitions for signatures. The verification of signatures is usually done by a state official or agency, not a citizen commission.

Question 11

With regard to the effect of direct democracy on public policy,all of the following are true EXCEPT
A)direct democracy makes policies more representative of what people want and always leads to better public policy.
B)when voters are allowed to make direct choices on policies they sometimes make decisions that their elected representatives would not.
C)the biggest policy effects of direct democracy may be in the realm of governance policy.
D)the mere presence of the initiative process can affect public policy by changing how legislators behave.

Accepted Answer

Direct democracy does make policies more representative of what people want, but it does not always lead to better public policy. The quality of public policy depends on various factors, including the information available to voters, the complexity of the issues, and the influence of interest groups.

Question 12

To qualify a measure for the statewide ballot in large states like California,proponents
A)need only to pay a qualifying fee,rather than collect individual signatures by petition.
B)present their measure to a panel of judges,who decide whether or not to allow it.
C)simply need to file a request and wait a required period of one year for a review.
D)often resort to hiring firms that are paid to collect signatures.

Accepted Answer

In large states like California, the process to qualify a measure for the statewide ballot often involves collecting a significant number of signatures, which can be a daunting task. As a result, proponents frequently hire firms that specialize in gathering signatures to ensure they meet the required threshold. This approach is more practical and efficient than attempting to collect all the necessary signatures through volunteer efforts alone.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the effects of direct democracy on citizens?
A)The presence of highly visible initiatives and frequent voting on ballot measures may make people feel more as if they "have a say" in politics.
B)People in initiative states are more likely to think that public officials do not care about what citizens think.
C)There is some evidence that frequent use of initiatives causes voters to feel more competent when participating in politics.
D)People in initiative states are more likely to engage in political discussion,have greater political knowledge,and contribute to interest groups.

Accepted Answer

People in initiative states, where direct democracy tools like referendums and initiatives are common, often feel more engaged and believe that they have more influence over political decisions. This contradicts the statement in option B, which suggests that people would think public officials do not care about their opinions. In reality, the direct involvement in political processes can increase the sense that public officials must be responsive to the electorate's will.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT true regarding paid signature gathering in the United States?
A)Petition management firms often offer proponents a guarantee of qualification,but at a price that runs close to $2 million.
B)Paid signature gatherers have been known to earn a typical rate of $1 or $2 per valid signature.
C)The U.S.Supreme Court upheld state laws in 1988 that banned the practice of paid signature gathering.
D)Paid signature gathering,as an institution,allows wealthy groups and individuals to play a prominent,if not dominant,role in affecting what gets put to a public vote.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court has not upheld state laws banning the practice of paid signature gathering; instead, it has recognized paid petition circulators as protected under the First Amendment.

Question 15

Which U.S.Supreme Court case ruled that no limits may be placed on sources that can be used,or a cap on the amount spent,in ballot initiative campaigns?
A)Simpson v.United States
B)Malone v.White Motor Corp.
C)Bellotti v.First National Bank of Boston
D)Bankers Trust Co.v.Mallis

Accepted Answer

Bellotti v. First National Bank of Boston is the case that ruled no limits may be placed on the sources of funding or the amount of money spent in ballot initiative campaigns, recognizing the importance of free speech in the context of political campaigns.

Question 16

According to one study,which of the following states has the easiest qualification rules for ballot initiatives?
A)Idaho
B)Nevada
C)Oregon
D)Wyoming

Accepted Answer

Oregon is known for having relatively easy qualification rules for ballot initiatives compared to many other states. This is due to its lower number of signatures required and a more streamlined process for getting initiatives onto the ballot.

Question 17

Controversial issues placed for a public vote via the initiative or referendum process by one political party or group,with the goal of dividing candidates and supporters of a rival party or group are known as
A)wedge issues.
B)split-ticket items.
C)partisan grudges.
D)policy divisions.

Accepted Answer

Wedge issues are controversial subjects used by one political party or group to divide members and supporters of another party or group, often leading to internal conflicts or dilemmas on certain policies or social issues. These are strategically placed for public vote to create division and influence election outcomes.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT true regarding direct democracy and minorities?
A)Many people worry that the initiative process can harm the interests and civil rights of minorities.
B)There is evidence that the initiative process is prone to produce laws that disadvantage minorities more than legislatures would.
C)In nearly every instance where the initiative process has been used to limit minority rights,courts have stepped in to overturn voters and uphold minority rights.
D)Most initiatives pit the interests of racial/ethnic minorities against the majority.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT true...

Question 19

The large sums of money spent on ballot measure campaigns gave rise to concerns about the perspective that says paid political consultants are actors who create the demand for their services by advocating their own proposals for ballot measures.This perspective is known as
A)the initiative industrial complex.
B)the guns for hire mechanism.
C)Californication.
D)special interest domination.

Accepted Answer

The term "the initiative industrial complex" refers to the phenomenon where paid political consultants are seen as actors who not only respond to demand for their services but actively create demand by advocating for their own proposals for ballot measures. This perspective suggests a self-sustaining industry around ballot initiatives, driven by these consultants.

Question 20

In a 2010 decision,the U.S.Supreme Court ruled that the state of Washington could do what with signatures collected on a popular referendum?
A)Make them available to the public.
B)Destroy them.
C)Prevent the public from viewing them.
D)Use them to identify pedophiles.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court ruled that the state of Washington could make the signatures collected on a popular referendum available to the public, emphasizing transparency and public access to political processes.

Quiz 4: State and Local Direct Democracy

Which is NOT an example of a tax limitation measure?

Initiated laws passed by voters

Which of the following is NOT true regarding voter decisions on ballot measures?

When economic interest groups spend in favor of their own initiatives,they

Who is more likely to view TV and radio as the most influential media source in ballot measure campaigns?

In 2006,voters in Florida approved a legislative referendum requiring all subsequent ballot measures to receive at least of the popular vote in order to be approved.

Supporters of direct democracy suggest that when voters are allowed to make direct choices on policies at the ballot,they

Regarding direct democracy,most people feel that

Regarding whether money matters in initiative campaigns,some studies have shown that

Which of the following is NOT one of the four basic steps in the initiative process that most states share?

With regard to the effect of direct democracy on public policy,all of the following are true EXCEPT

To qualify a measure for the statewide ballot in large states like California,proponents

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the effects of direct democracy on citizens?

Which of the following is NOT true regarding paid signature gathering in the United States?

Which U.S.Supreme Court case ruled that no limits may be placed on sources that can be used,or a cap on the amount spent,in ballot initiative campaigns?

According to one study,which of the following states has the easiest qualification rules for ballot initiatives?

Controversial issues placed for a public vote via the initiative or referendum process by one political party or group,with the goal of dividing candidates and supporters of a rival party or group are known as

Which of the following is NOT true regarding direct democracy and minorities?

The large sums of money spent on ballot measure campaigns gave rise to concerns about the perspective that says paid political consultants are actors who create the demand for their services by advocating their own proposals for ballot measures.This perspective is known as

In a 2010 decision,the U.S.Supreme Court ruled that the state of Washington could do what with signatures collected on a popular referendum?