Briefly describe the four stages through which an initiative must pass in order to take effect California.
What will be an ideal response?
Stage 1, Preparation Stage: Drafting and Titling. A proposed law is written and submitted with $2,000 to the Attorney General's office, which posts it online for 30 days for public comment. After the review period, the proposal can be changed or amended by authors during a short window of time (5 days), and then is given a title and summary by the Attorney General's office. Stage 2, Qualification: Circulating Petitions, Gathering Signatures, and Signature Verification. Authors circulate petitions to gather enough signatures to qualify their measure within a given time frame. After the deadline, the Secretary of State verifies whether enough signatures are valid, and assigns it a number if it qualifies for the ballot ("Proposition #"). Stage 3, Campaign: supporters and opponents campaign to convince voters to reject or accept the measure. A simple majority vote is needed to pass initiatives; supermajority votes are needed to pass bond measures (two thirds). Stage 4, Postelection: measures take effect immediately, unless challenged in court. Many measures must survive court challenges in order to take effect. (Astute students might also point out that public officials sometimes try to find ways around initiatives, and that opponents often try to overcome propositions with their own versions by trying to get them qualified for a future election.)
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What does the supremacy clause assert?
a. State laws are superior to any federal laws. b. The Constitution and all laws made under it are superior to any state laws. c. Congress is the most powerful branch of the government. d. No European powers shall interfere in North America.
Topics in American Government: Interest GroupsClick on the above link to access the Interactive eBook. Once you've signed in, scroll to page 567 and watch the video. When you've finished watching the video, come back to the test and answer the following questions:The difference between an interest group and a social movement is that unlike an interest group, a social movement ______.
A. is a voluntary organization of like-minded individuals B. deals with cultural, not political, issues C. is a broader effort to call national attention to injustices D. uses crises to focus public attention on an issue
What was the rationale behind the framers' decision to have members of the U.S. Senate appointed by their respective state legislatures?
a. to minimize the effect of federalism b. to insulate the Senate from the tyranny of the majority c. to ensure legislative responsibility to the states d. to maintain Senate dominance over the House of Representatives
___ At President Clinton's request, the Democrat-led Congress passed a $30 billion crime bill that represented an unprecedented venture into a policy domain that had historically been the province of state and local governments
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.