Activist Legislatures

[ogibillm]

A statewide initiative goes before the people. They vote 'yes' and pass the proposition, which then becomes law.

In the next legislative session the party in power decides to usurp the will of the voters and proposes and passes legislation that would largely undo the voter passed law.

Has this ever happened in your state? Would you, or do you, support such activist legislatures?

 

[martybegan]

A statewide initiative goes before the people. They vote 'yes' and pass the proposition, which then becomes law.

In the next legislative session the party in power decides to usurp the will of the voters and proposes and passes legislation that would largely undo the voter passed law.

Has this ever happened in your state? Would you, or do you, support such activist legislatures?

This is the inherent problem of combining a populist initative system with a representative system. The representatives represent the will of the people as well, based upon the vote that put them into office.

The only recourse is for the voters to remove the current legislature via the next election.

This is similar to the issue we have with the whole WI recall thing. It isnt like the legislators were placed into office by fiat. They were voted in, and represent the will of the voters at that given time.

With the whole recall thing, we now are basically extending the election period, which defeats the concept of terms of office for elected positions.

 

[ogibillm]

A statewide initiative goes before the people. They vote 'yes' and pass the proposition, which then becomes law.

In the next legislative session the party in power decides to usurp the will of the voters and proposes and passes legislation that would largely undo the voter passed law.

Has this ever happened in your state? Would you, or do you, support such activist legislatures?

This is the inherent problem of combining a populist initative system with a representative system. The representatives represent the will of the people as well, based upon the vote that put them into office.

The only recourse is for the voters to remove the current legislature via the next election.

This is similar to the issue we have with the whole WI recall thing. It isnt like the legislators were placed into office by fiat. They were voted in, and represent the will of the voters at that given time.

With the whole recall thing, we now are basically extending the election period, which defeats the concept of terms of office for elected positions.

recalls aren't an easy thing to make happen. neither is getting an initiative on the ballot.

either way, would you support your state legislature directly contradicting the will of the peple as voted not more than six months prior?

i know there isn't much that can be done other than to remove those politicians from power at the next election, but could you, or would you, support a move like that by the legislature?

 

[martybegan]

A statewide initiative goes before the people. They vote 'yes' and pass the proposition, which then becomes law.

In the next legislative session the party in power decides to usurp the will of the voters and proposes and passes legislation that would largely undo the voter passed law.

Has this ever happened in your state? Would you, or do you, support such activist legislatures?

This is the inherent problem of combining a populist initative system with a representative system. The representatives represent the will of the people as well, based upon the vote that put them into office.

The only recourse is for the voters to remove the current legislature via the next election.

This is similar to the issue we have with the whole WI recall thing. It isnt like the legislators were placed into office by fiat. They were voted in, and represent the will of the voters at that given time.

With the whole recall thing, we now are basically extending the election period, which defeats the concept of terms of office for elected positions.

recalls aren't an easy thing to make happen. neither is getting an initiative on the ballot.

either way, would you support your state legislature directly contradicting the will of the peple as voted not more than six months prior?

i know there isn't much that can be done other than to remove those politicians from power at the next election, but could you, or would you, support a move like that by the legislature?

As long as the state constitution allows it, there is no recourse but to vote out the current legislature. Is it a dick move by the legislature? probably, but if constitutional it is allowable.

There is another inherent trait of representative democracy in that all of the branches can act as a check against a bad idea. This is the purpose of a bill of rights as well. Such a check might include a legislature making a petition null and void.