Title:      Direct Democracy and Social Issues

Authors:    John Matsusaka

Entrydate:  2007-05-29 18:49:17

Keywords:   Direct democracy, initiative, social issues,
representation

Abstract:   This paper explores the connection between the initiative
process â?? the most potent form of direct democracy â?? and social
issues by examining laws on seven social issues in all 50 American
states. Initiative states are 18 percent more likely than
noninitiative states to choose a conservative than a liberal policy
on the median issue after controlling for public opinion,
demographic, and regional variables. The conservative shift is
majoritarian: initiative states are 8 percent more likely than
noninitiative states to choose laws that reflect the majorityâ??s
preference. The initiative effect does not appear to depend on the
institutional features that scholars and reformers often discuss.

http://polmeth.wustl.edu/retrieve.php?id=693