What is the initiative and referendum process?
Anything that appears on the ballot other than a candidate for office is called a ballot measure. Ballot measures are broken down into two distinct categories initiatives and referendums. Initiatives are when the citizens, collecting signatures on a petition, place advisory questions, memorials, statutes or constitutional amendments on the ballot for the citizens to adopt or reject. Twenty-four states have the initiative process. Of the 24 states, 18 have the constitutional initiative process which is further broken down into two distinct subcategories – direct initiative amendments (DA) and indirect initiative amendments (IDA). A direct initiative amendment (DA) is when a constitutional amendment is proposed by the people and is placed directly on the ballot for voter approval or rejection. An indirect initiative amendment (IDA) is when a constitutional amendment is proposed by the people but must first be submitted to the state legislature for consideration before the amendment can b
