Summary Of Direct Democracy In Ohio

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Sracic & Binning, Chapter 9. “Direct Democracy In Ohio” This chapter talked about direct and indirect initiatives. Initiatives are a tedious process and have many requirements for it’s approval.
In a direct initiative, a vote is sent directly to the voters after the petition. A direct intuitive, which is used for constitutional amendments, has many steps. Before gathering signatures, the Ohio attorney general must review the amendment to make sure the language is fair and just. The amendment must be accompanied by a petition of 1,000 votes and the names of individuals who will represent the petitioners. Once the attorney general approves the amendment they would send it to the Ohio Ballot Board. In order for the amendment to be placed on a ballot, signatures must equal 10% of the total voters in the state elections prior and must be consisting of 5% of the votes be from at least half of the state’s counties.
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The procedure for getting the law approved is similar to the procedures of a direct initiative. The number of signers on the petition is still 1,000 but there only needs to be a 3% vote within the total voters and 1.5% of the voters in at least half of the counties. Since this law must go through the general assembly before going to legislation, it is called an indirect initiative. A referendum is gives people the power to challenge a law they don’t think is suitable. It’s almost as if the voters are given he right to vote on a veto of the general assembly’s enactment. Most of the referendum occur hand-in-hand with employee unions. This is relevant to me because I will most likely have to join a teacher’s union when I graduate and start teaching in the classroom.
Shea, Green, and Smith, Chapter 3