Many states allow ballot initiatives, or propositions, to be placed on the ballot to be voted on by the people. Often, voters are unaware of the meaning, implications, and even existence of these initiatives. This section addresses various initiatives and what they mean to independent-minded voters.
Proposition 14 and Open Primaries represent the spirit of democracy and our republican form of government, which makes the partisan motivations of those in opposition to the change in rules, suspect.
In 2012, independents will outnumber one of the major parties in 12 of the 53 Congressional districts, 10 of the 40 Senatorial districts, and 22 of the 80 Assembly districts.
The part-time plan is a genuine attempt by a concerned legislator to end the gridlock. But it’s unclear how this solution could succeed due to California’s structural and deeply embedded political problems.
All three measures share similar goals in wanting to fund education, with different methods for achieving that goal.
The Open Elections/Open Government Act would alter the state’s constitution to create a top-two open primary system like that passed by California voters in 2010.
But taking “politics” out of an inherently political process is easier said than done, as has been demonstrated by the experience of Arizona’s Redistricting Commission.
In a major milestone for advocates of marijuana legalization, The Journal of the American Medical Association has published the results of a study which found that casual marijuana use does not harm lung function.
