The California Initiative Process:
A Select Bibliography

 LIBRARY
Institute of Governmental Studies
University of California
109 Moses Hall #2370
Berkeley, CA 94720-2370
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http://www.igs.berkeley.edu/

April 1998

This bibliography was prepared for the conference, "Proposition 13 and Its Progeny: Is California Suffering from an Excess of Democracy?" held at the Institute of Governmental Studies, April 1-2, 1998. It is in two parts: books and articles published in the past ten years, and Internet resources.

I. Books and Articles (1988-Mar. 1998)
Compiled by Terry Dean.
Ainsworth, Bill.
"Derailing initiatives (before they reach the ballot)," California Journal, v. 23, no. 1 (Jan. 1992), p. 47-50.
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"Initiative wars : if you can't beat 'em, swamp 'em," California Journal, v. 21, no. 3 (Mar. 1990), p. 147-149.
Arnold, Richard.
"Take the initiative: step-by-step tips on how to put an issue on the ballot," Campaigns & Elections, v. 14, no. 2 (June-July, 1993), p. 51-52.
Barnes, James A.
"Losing the initiative," National Journal, v. 22, no. 35 (Sept. 1, 1990), p. 2046-2053.
Benedict, Robert.
"Citizen lawmakers: the ballot initiative revolution (book review)," American Political Science Review, v. 85, no. 1 (Mar. 1991), p. 281-282.
Brown, G. Richard.
"What is a city's proper role when an initiative goes to court?" Western City, v. 64, no. 10 (Oct. 1988), p. 40.
Cage, Mary Crystal.
"California's colleges wage broad campaign to win support for a measure to lift state's voter-imposed spending limit," Chronicle of Higher Education, v. 36, no. 35 (May 16, 1990), p. A1-A2.
Cain, Bruce E. and others.
"California library referenda : the determinants of success and failure," The Bottom Line : Managing Library Finances, v. 10, no. 2 (1997), p. 44-57.
California State Library. State Information and Reference Center.
Initiative and Referendum / compiled by Kathleen Low. [Sacramento, CA] : State Information & Reference Center, 1989. (Special topics ; no. 26). 10 p.
Caves, Roger.
"Determining land use policy via the ballot box : the growth initiative blitz in California," Land Use Policy, v. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1990), p. 70-79.
Cronin, Thomas E.
Direct Democracy : the Politics of Initiative, Referendum, and Recall. Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press, 1989. 289 p.
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"Public opinion and direct democracy," PS, v. 21, no. 3 (Summer 1988), p. 612-619.
Culver, John.
"Reforming California government," Comparative State Politics, v. 17, no.3 (June 1996), p.22-28.
Curtin, D.J. and Jacobson, M.T.
"Growth management by the initiative in California : legal and practical issues," Urban Lawyer, v. 21, no. 3 (summer 1989), p. 491-510.
Cutler, David M., Douglas W. Elmendorf and Richard Zeckhauser.
Restraining the Leviathan : Property Tax Limitation in Massachusetts. Cambridge, MA. : National Bureau of Economic Research, [1997].
A Digest on Public Attitudes toward Statewide Proposition Elections.
San Francisco : Field Institute, 1989. (California opinion index ; no. 1, Mar. 1989). [2] p.
Dolan, Maura.
"Legislature can't limit initiatives, court says (Amwest Insurance Co. v. Wilson, 11 Cal. 4th 1243 (1995))," Los Angeles Times, v. 114 (Fri, Dec 15, 1995), p. A1, col 3 (26 col in.).
Dubois, Philip L. and Floyd F. Feeney.
Improving the California Initiative Process : Options for Change. Berkeley, CA : California Policy Seminar, University of California, c1992. xii, 173, [103] p.
"E-lectioneering: cheaper and easier ways to communicate are changing the political habits of democracies, not always for the better,"
Economist, v. 335, no. 7919 (June 17, 1995), p. 21-23.
Field, Mervin D.
While Public Still Has a Very Positive View of the Initiative Process, There Is Considerable Support for Some Changes in the System. San Francisco : California Poll, 1989. (Release ; #1491, Mar. 10, 1989). 4 p.
Fox, Joel.
"Making hay in Hiram Johnson's pasture (elected officials using initiative process for personal political gain)," Los Angeles Times, v. 109 (Tue, Feb. 27, 1990), p. B7, col. 3 (9 col. in.).
----- and Harvey Rosenfield.
"The people's initiatives are under heavy assault; lawmakers, stung by term limits, consider various curbs on popularly generated propositions," Los Angeles Times, v. 110 (Fri, August 23, 1991), p. B7, col. 5 (17 col. in.).
Galvin, Thomas.
"States use ballot propositions to take the initiative (1992 general election)," Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, v. 50, no. 43 (Oct 31, 1992), p. 3505-3506.
Gerber, Elisabeth R.
"Legislative response to the threat of popular initiatives," American Journal of Political Science, v. 40, no. 1 (Feb. 1996), p. [99]-128.
"Government in California," Economist, no. 326 (Feb. 13, 1993), p.21-23.
Hill, Elizabeth G.
Ballot-Box Budgeting. Menlo Park, CA : EdSource, [1990]. 6 p.
"December 1990."
Hoekstra, Pete.
"Breaking the congressional lockgrip : the case for a national referendum," Policy Review, no. 69 (summer 1994), p. 83-86.
Initiative Power : Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Sacramento, Calif. : Office of the Secretary of State, Elections Division, 1994. (#636, Mar. 7, 1994). [7] p.
Title and summary prepared by the California Attorney General.
Initiatives : Program Proceedings.
[Chicago] : American Bar Association Standing Committee on Election Law, c1992. 79 p.
Meeting held May 17, 1991, Alexandria, Va.
"It means government by the people, and we are the people (survey on full democracy),"
Economist, v. 341, no. 7997 (Dec 21, 1996), p. S3-S4.
Jones, Bill, 1949-
A History of the California Initiative Process. [Sacramento, Calif. : Secretary of State, 1996]. 120 p.
"December 1996."
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Secretary Jones Announces $93 Million of Record-Setting $141 Million Cannot Be Linked to Specific Ballot Measures : Advocates Legislation to Fix Legal Loophole. Sacramento, Calif. : Secretary of State, 1997. (News release BJ97:81, Dec. 3, 1997). 2 p.
Jost, Kenneth.
"Initiatives : true democracy or bad lawmaking? (includes article on populist movement; information on thirty states that allow initiative, referendum or recall)," Editorial Research Reports, v. 1, no. 30 (Aug. 17, 1990), p. 462 (13 pages).
King, Peter H.
"On taking (back) the initiative (initiative process in California)," Los Angeles Times, v. 115 (Sun, Oct 20, 1996), p. A3, col. 1 (18 col in.).
Kurfirst, Robert.
"Direct democracy in the Sunshine State : recent challenges to Florida's citizen initiative," Comparative State Politics, v. 17, no. 4 (Aug. 1996), p. 1-15.
Lacayo, Richard.
"Tunnel vision : do voters finally see a need for new taxes? Californians did - but only when they could also see the payback," Time, v. 135, no. 25 (June 18, 1990), p. 16 (3 pages).
Lee, Eugene C.
"Hiram Johnson's great reform is an idea whose time has passed," Public Affairs Report, v. 31, no. 4 (July 1990), p. [1]-3.
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"Power to the people? : a scholar of government looks at the initiative system," Government Finance Review, v. 5, no. 5 (Oct. 1989), p. 26-27.
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"Representative government and the initiative process," California Policy Choices, v. 6 (1990), p. [227]-253.
McKenna, Kathy Zimmerman.
"Ballot bowl, industries seek to undermine consumer, environmentalist initiatives," California Journal, v. 21, no. 8 (Aug. 1990), p. 376-379.
Magleby, David B.
"Taking the initiative : direct legislation and direct democracy in the 1980s," PS, v. 21, no. 3 (summer 1988), p. 600-611.
Munk, Nina.
"Lobbyists' new toy (California's ballot initiative process)," Forbes, v. 154, no. 12 (Nov. 21, 1994), p. 62-63.
Neal, Tommy.
"Making laws at the ballot box (voters' participation in legislative process)," State Legislatures, v. 18, no. 11 (Nov. 1992), p. 24 (3 pages).
Nichols, John.
"Taking the initiative (ballot initiatives)," Nation, v. 262, no. 16 (Apr. 22, 1996), p. 4-5.
Nord, Douglas C.
"Citizen lawmakers : the ballot initiative revolution (book review)," Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, v. 518 (Nov. 1991), p. 209-210.
"Onerous in Oregon (citizen participation in tax related ballot efforts in Oregon),"
Wall Street Journal, (Thurs., Oct. 4, 1990), p. A20(W), A20(E), col. 1 (12 col. in.).
Polashuk, R. R.
"Protecting the public debate : the validity of the fairness doctrine in ballot initiative elections," UCLA Law Review, v. 41, no. 2 (Dec. 1993), p. 391-442.
Price, Charles M.
"In the shadow of Jarvis and Gann : citizen initiators tilt at the electoral windmill," California Journal, v. 26, no. 4 (Apr. 1995), p. 38-42.
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"Initiative reform : is it time to return to the "indirect" initiative?" California Journal, v. 25, no. 4 (Apr. 1994), p. 33-36.
----- and Robert Waste.
"Initiatives : too much of a good thing?" California Journal, v. 22, no. 3 (Mar. 1991), p. 117-120.
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"Shadow government," California Journal, v. 28, no. 10 (Oct. 1997), p. 32-38.
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"Signing for fun and profit : the business of gathering petition signatures," California Journal, v. 23, no. 11 (Nov. 1992), p. 545-548.
Rauber, Paul.
"Losing the initiative? Lessons from the 1990 election : keep it simple, keep it cheap, and keep it off the ballot if there's going to be a war (planning environmental initiatives)," Sierra, v. 76, no. 3 (May-June 1991), p. 20-22.
"Read the small print (direct democracy isn't working)(Success and excess: a survey of California),"
Economist, v. 317, no. 7676 (Oct. 13, 1990), p. S18 (3 pages).
Reich, Kenneth E.
"The 64-million dollar question," Campaigns & Elections, v. 9, no. 7 (Mar.-Apr. 1989), p. 15-18, 21.
Riley, David, 1942-
"Government by initiative : in California, do-it-yourself legislators tackle tough issues," Government Executive, v. 20, no. 10 (Oct. 1988), p. 32-34.
Ross, Jean and Jonathan Coupal.
"Perspectives on Proposition 13," California Journal, v. 28, no. 9 (Sept. 1997), p. 26-27.
Salzman, Ed.
"Hiram's folly (the initiative in California)," Golden State Report, v. 4, no. 10 (Oct. 1988), p. 7-10.
Schmidt, David D.
Citizen Lawmakers : the Ballot Initiative Revolution. Philadelphia : Temple University Press, 1989. xi, 345 p.
Schrag, Peter.
"California, here we come : government by plebiscite, which would have horrified the Founding Fathers, threatens to replace representative government," The Atlantic Monthly, v. 281, no. 3 (Mar. 1998), p. 20 (4 pages).
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"California's elected anarchy : a government destroyed by popular referendum," Harper's Magazine, v. 289, no. 1734 (Nov. 1994), p. 50 (9 pages).
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"Initiative madness. (California II - referendum process)," The New Republic, v. 199, no. 8 (Aug. 22, 1988), p. 18 (2 pages).
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"Language barrier : California's bilingualism mess (Proposition 227)," The New Republic, v. 218, no. 10 (Mar. 9, 1998), p. 14 (2 pages).
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Paradise Lost : California's Experience, America's Future. New York : The New Press, 1998. 344 p.
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"Take the initiative, please : referendum madness in California," American Prospect, no. 28 (Sept.-Oct. 1996), p. 61-63.
Shokraii, Nina.
"Mr. Smith shuns Washington (how conservatives are using state and local elections and initiatives to achieve their political objectives)," Insight on the News, v. 10, no. 27 (July 4, 1994), p. 37-38.
Simmons, Charlene Wear.
California's Statewide Initiative Process. Sacramento : California Research Bureau, California State Library, 1997. (CRB-97-006). 1 v. (various pagings)
http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/06/97006.pdf
Smith, Daniel A.
Howard Jarvis, Populist Entrepreneur : Reevaluating the Causes of Proposition 13. Berkeley : Institute of Governmental Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 1997. (Working paper ; 97-8). 30 p.
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"Unmasking the tax crusaders : despite their populist rallying cries, those who lead tax revolts often rely on special interests for their campaign funds," State Government News, v. 41, no. 2 (Mar. 1998), p. 18-21.
Soherr-Hadwiger, David.
"Money, turnout, and ballot measure success in California cities," Western Political Quarterly, v. 45, no. 2 (June 1992), p. [539]-547.
Stern, Robert M.
"Salvaging the initiative process," State Government News, v. 35, no. 9 (Sept. 1992), p. 24-25.
A Study of California Ballot Measures, 1884 to 1993,
compiled by Tony Miller. Sacramento, CA : California Secretary of State, 1994. 1 v. (various pagings).
"January 1994."
Thomas, Tom E., 1953-
Corporate Political Strategy and Influence in the California Initiative Process. 1989. v, 387 leaves.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, Berkeley, 1989.
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"Has business 'captured' the California initiative agenda?" California Management Review, v. 33, no. 1 (Fall 1990), p. 131-147.
Unz, Ron K.
"Antidote for ethnic antagonisms (California's civil rights initiative)," Los Angeles Times, v. 114 (Mar. 12, 1995), p. M5, col 2 (21 col in.).
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"Scaling the heights of irrationality (California referendum directed against illegal immigrants) (Prop. 187)," Los Angeles Times, v. 113 (Oct. 3, 1994), p. B7, col 2 ( 21 col in.).
Wagar, Linda.
"When the ballot takes a beating : groups that sponsor voter initiatives say that states are derailing their efforts," State Government News, v. 38, no. 1 (Jan. 1995), p. [16]-18.
West, Woody.
"Direct-democracy path may lead voters astray (danger of proposal requiring all tax increases to be implemented by voter referendum)," Insight on the News, v. 10, no. 37 (Sept 12, 1994), p. 40.
Wheeler, Douglas P. and Bill Owens.
"Is the initiative process a good idea? : point, counterpoint," State Government News, v. 34, no. 7 (July 1991), p. 14-15.
II. Internet Resources
Compiled by Marc Levin.
California Fair Political Practices Commission
http://www.fppc.ca.gov/fppc/
California Secretary of State, Elections Division
http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm
California Voter Foundation
http://www.calvoter.org/
League of Women Voters of California
http://ca.lwv.org/
1998 Ballot Initiative Update (California Secretary of State)
http://www.ss.ca.gov/initstat.htm
Specific Initiative Measures on the June 1998 Ballot:
Analyses of Measures on the June 2, 1998 Ballot (California Legislative Analyst's Office)
http://www.lao.ca.gov/1998_june_ballot.html
Pros & Cons of June 1998 State Ballot Measures (League of Women Voters of California)
http://ca.lwv.org/lwvc.files/pc0698/
Taypayers for Competitive Bidding (Proposition 224)
http://compbid.org/
California Foundation for Campaign Reform (Proposition 226)
http://www.prop226.com/
Californians to Protect Employee Rights (Proposition 226)
http://www.defeatprop226.org/main.html
Citizens for an Educated America (Proposition 227)
http://www.noonunz.org/
English for Children (Proposition 227)
http://www.onenation.org/
National Committee for Language Rights (Proposition 227)
http://www.aztlan.net/Bilingual/