Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "California ballot proposition" in English language version.
In an era of declining voter turnout, electorates that are largely uninformed on non-Presidential candidates and issues, and a direct democracy system specifically designed to be inflexible, should Californians continue to be vested with such enormous public policy decisions?... While legislatively referred statutes and constitutional amendments had been allowed, Proposition 7 permitted Californians to qualify and vote on initiatives and referendums. It passed overwhelmingly with over three-fourths of the vote.
The powerful labor union, which represents 700,000 workers and 17 local unions, is leading a coalition considering reforms to the referendum process. ... It's an argument that flips the original inspiration for direct democracy on its head. Progressive-era Gov. Hiram Johnson is largely credited with pushing for the system to balance the influence corporations held over lawmakers in the early 20th century. Voters ratified the adoption of the initiative, referendum and recall in 1911 at a time when state government "had for decades been under the control of the Southern Pacific Railroad," according to the Initiative and Referendum Institute at USC.
In a huge victory for organized labor, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Friday restricting California ballot initiatives to November elections, when turnout is higher and more advantageous for Democrats. / The bill, passed by legislative Democrats in the final hours of the legislative session, could help labor unions defeat a pending measure to, in part, make it harder for unions to raise campaign funds from members.
In a huge victory for organized labor, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Friday restricting California ballot initiatives to November elections, when turnout is higher and more advantageous for Democrats. / The bill, passed by legislative Democrats in the final hours of the legislative session, could help labor unions defeat a pending measure to, in part, make it harder for unions to raise campaign funds from members.
