Article
Initiatives within Representative Government: Political Competition and Initiative Use in the American States
State Politics and Policy Quarterly
(2013)
Abstract
Why are statewide ballot initiatives used more frequently in some states relative to others? Using Gerber as a theoretical baseline, I argue that groups use initiatives in response to conditions surrounding representative government. Specifically, I argue that groups are best able to mobilize the resources necessary (i.e., citizens) to draft, qualify for the ballot, and pass an initiative when conditions surrounding representative government render it incapable of addressing citizens’ policy preferences efficiently and effectively.
Keywords
- Will Hicks,
- representative government,
- state legislature
Disciplines
Publication Date
October 1, 2013
Citation Information
Will Hicks. "Initiatives within Representative Government: Political Competition and Initiative Use in the American States" State Politics and Policy Quarterly (2013) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/will-hicks/15/