California's Direct Means of Democracy Essay

The executive branch controls the National Guard , which act as the states’ military designed to protect their borders against all foreign and domestic enemies. Then there is the legislative branch that is comprised of representatives elected by the people of the state. This branch controls the state’s articles of impeachment, budget, initiates the tax legislations, and creates legislative laws to fix issues brought forth by the governor and/or the people. All the states, with the exception of Nebraska have a legislative branch comprised of a bicameral legislature with two chambers. These two chambers are the smaller upper house (Senate) and the larger lower house (House of Representatives), with the responsibilities of constructing state laws and fulfilling other state responsibilities such as the state budget. (State & Local Government)

The Progressive Era was a time period between the years 1900-1920 and it marked a time in American history in which society was bursting with enthusiasm to improve life in the industrial age by making political and social changes through government action that ultimately led to a higher quality of life for American citizens. Progressives were known for their beliefs in limiting the power of big business, strengthening the power of the states, and were advocators against corruption and social injustice. These progressive reformers as well as the Federal Government successfully managed to improve the quality of life and establish a precedent for a move active government, although neither was completely successful in solving significant

The structure of the legislative arm is simple. It comprises of the assembly and the senate just like the federal government. In California, the state assembly comprises 80 members who are elected on a two-year term. The state senate comprises 40 members elected on a four year term. The requirements for election into office are: US citizen 18 years of age, resident

Many citizens throughout the Progressive Era believed no changes occurred in the society because the press did not write about the changes and the Woman’s Suffrage Movement did not change either. However, changes such as the government changing, both the labor and meat inspection reforms, and trusts reforms indeed brought about change, noticeable or not. Therefore, the Progressive era brought great social, political, and economic change by bettering the overall lives of the common people.

The first goal that the progressives had was to expand the democracy. They did this by helping the people have a greater voice in the government. They did this by getting the 17th amendment and the 19th amendment passed. Also, at state level, voters were given a greater role in the government, voters were allowed to introduce a bill to the state legislature, voters can approve or reject a bill's place on a ballot, and voters can remove public officials from office. Furthermore, at local city governments limited the power of political machines by implementing civil service exams that were based on merit and ability for government positions. In addition, to help end unfair business practices and encourage competition a number of acts were passed. One act that was passed was the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. The purpose of this act was to regulate railroads by outlawing pools and rebates, the outcome at first was not effective because the courts favored the interests of the railroads. Another act that was passed was the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. The purpose of this act was to encourage completion by outlawing trusts and monopolies. The outcome was not effective at all because it was difficult to enforce. Moreover, the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was another act that was passed. The main purpose of this act was to create a

In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities.” (Jefferson, 1801) This idea echoed far beyond it’s time and into the minds and hearts of the Populist’s, and became the center and the driving force of the Progressive era. During the gilded age railroads were being built, Industrialization was rising, the population of United States was increasing dramatically; and corporate businesses were becoming extremely

The Legislative branch helps keep the executive branch in check. The Legislative branch or also called congress has two houses within it. The houses are the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. There are 128 representatives in the senate who are elected every six years. There are 500 representatives in

The Progressives were a group of reformers such as writers, politicians, and Social welfare advocate, etc. living mainly in cities during the early 20th century and working to change legislative issues, financial aspects, and good society. They accepted that change could originate from inside of man, and along these lines, dismisses the believe of Social Darwinism and regular determination. They were in charge of the section of many laws, including restriction, the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, and the Interstate Commerce Act. During this era, “People work to make themselves and the society a safer and a better place to live. The Progressive worked to make big business regulate more responsible and clean up corrupted businesses, city, improving a better working conditions etc.”(Discussion 9). New comers to the movement strived to adjust to new conditions at one hand while attempting to keep up their particular society and dialect framework with the other making a perplexing circumstance.

Our Legislative Branch has two chambers or as some will call it bicameral. The chambers consist of the Senate and the House of Representatives just like the National Legislative Branch. In our Senate we currently have a total of 31

In doing so, political parties could ensure they held power regardless of public opinion. Those who counted the vote had the power to dictate the outcome. In an attempt to counteract and put an end to these activities, the citizens had to speak up and become more active in their government. Reformers implemented the concepts of initiative, referendum, and recall. Initiative petitioned a legislature to introduce a bill, making people more responsible for laws and political decisions. Referendums allowed citizens to vote on laws instead of state or national governments. Finally, recall allowed citizens to remove incompetent politicians from office with a second election. These practices did make progress, however, they lacked the power to truly investigate and exterminate the problem as a whole. They could adjust issues that were already present, but they did little to prevent future corruption. Similar to ending political corruption, the push for the direct election of senators through primary elections was an attempt get the citizens more active and promote democracy. Previously, senators were elected by legislators already in office; not the people. The Constitution stated, “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature.” This led to legislatures electing individuals who they believed would be the best fit. To solve the problem, reformers pushed for the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment. This adjustment to the Constitution states, “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people” (Document C). By passing this amendment, the progressives had won a major victory. However, the amendment did little to make the government more democratic and nearly nothing to make it more efficient. Although the people had a

Because of the principles of direct democracy, the Arizona’s Constitution was created. With direct democracy citizens were responsible for governing themselves, not the elected representatives. America’s founders felt that direct democracy was impractical and unwise when they wrote the United Constitution in 1787. Although, the Progressive movement believed the government was no good and the only way to restore a fair government was to give power to the citizens. They struggle for the adoption of the initiative, citizens did not have to get permission from officials establish their own statues and constitutional measures; they needed 15% vote to get on ballot. Adoption of referendum, citizens could reject statues and constitutional measures adopted by official; they needed majority vote by Legislature to get on ballot, with the adoption of recall, official could be removed from office before the end of their term; they needed 25% to call a recall election. Finally, at the peak of the Progressive Movement Arizona became a state. The reasons the

The Progressive Era was an influential time period that helped shape America into the present day country. During this time period, businesses were expanding rapidly and a new set of political, cultural, social, and environmental reforms were emerging under progressive ideals. Although different people associated and supported with different reforms, all progressives during this period were working for the advancement of American society. Despite the ineffectiveness of progressive reforms from 1900-1920 in creating an influential political platform to transform national politics, reformers were very successful in gaining the federal government the power to regulate trusts and industries.

Progressives were groups of reformers dedicated to improve the social and the political problems in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They live generally in the towns, were well instructed professionals, and thought the government could be an instrument for the transformation. They started a social movement that turned into a political movement. Unfortunately, the remainder of the population was subject to law incomes, long working hours, risky industrial tools, and unprincipled employers. Progressives believed the problems (poverty, violence, greed, racism, class warfare) that the society faced could best be directed by offering good education, a safe environment, and an efficient workplace. In the words of historian Howard Zinn, the Progressives worked to “stabilize the capitalist system by repairing its worst defects. 2and restore some measure of class peace in a time of increasingly bitter clashes between capital and labor” (Zinn 354). The progressive tried to reform the United States; however, they were incapable to make significant changes and improve the labors of the working class.

California Government is a direct democracy that has affected the political development positively and negatively . Direct democracy often called "pure democracy," is a form of government that allows the citizens to vote directly on laws and policies. (Ginsberg, Benjamin, & Theodore, "we the people," 2005) The initiative, referendum, and recall are the three powers in direct democracy that allow the citizens to propose or repeal legislation or remove officials from office and a tool of special interest. ("Initiative, Referendum, Recall information article" & lecture)

The political system that runs the United States of America is a result of the Constitution, Amendments and the Civil War. As mentioned before, there are 50 states that help govern the nation along with the national government, referred to as the Federal Government. The Federal Government is comprised of three branches: Legislative Branch, Executive Branch and Judicial Branch. These three branches were developed to satisfy the principle known as ‘separation of powers’. This is the idea that no one institution has too much power. This also means that no individual member can be more than one institution. The principle of ‘checks and balance’ also falls under this idea. Each branch has limited authority to act on its own. With that being said, each branch regulates the other two and vies-a-versa to a certain extent. The House of Representatives and the Senate make up the Legislative Branch. Together they make the laws of the nation. There are two senates per state, meaning 100 senators in the Senate House, and today in the 11th Congress there are 435 members. All congress members are elected by their respective states into either the Senate or House of Representatives.