Internet Hunts
Puzzles & Projects
Nature
History Mystery Message
Civics & History
Problem based Learning
PA. Projects
Computers
Home
Constitution parchment

Government by the People - Initiative and Referendum

Consider the thoughts of several of our founding fathers.

"Each generation has a right to choose for itself the form of government it believes most promotive of its happiness." Thomas Jefferson, 1812

“The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government.”
George Washington, 1787

"All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness. For the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think proper." Benjamin Franklin in the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Some people are working to establish citizen ballot initiative.

1. What is a citizen ballot initiative?

 

 

2. Does your state or commonwealth allow citizen ballot initiatives?

If your state permits citizen ballot initiatives, what is the process?

 

 

3. What percentage of the states currently provide for citizen ballot initiatives?

 

 

 

4. Which recent citizen ballot initiative would you have supported and why?

 

 

5. Do you support permitting citizen ballot initiatives and why?

 

 

6. Describe several ways that students like yourself can work positively to support passage of a citizen ballot initiative.

 

7. Conduct a class poll: Should a National ballot initiative be enacted?

Federal Election Commission


"As the people are the only legitimate fountain of power, and it is from them that the constitutional charter, under which the several branches of government hold their power, is derived, it seems strictly consonant to the republican theory to recur to the same original authority... whenever it may be necessary to enlarge, diminish, or new-model the powers of government." James Madison

Constitution Activity ms/hs Essays on civics Quotes on government Evaluate Legislator Civics & History Studies
Make Election Puzzle Bill Of Rights hs Elections Bill of Rights ms Thomas Paine Bridges or Earmarks
Electoral College Diversity American Creed Amend the Constitution Constitution Jobs Initiatives
Who is in Charge? eGovernment Fire Legislator Who gets Fines? First Amendment Rights Public's Right to Know

Internet Hunts / Nature / Computers / Pennsylvania Projects / Problem & Project Based Learning / Puzzles & Projects / Site map / Home

posted 2/2007 by Cynthia J. O'Hora, In the spirit of Thomas Paine - released to public domain

Aligned with the following Pennsylvania Academic Standards - Reading, Writing Speaking, History, Civics and Government, Mathematics, Civics, Science and Technology.
Aligned with the National Standards for Civics and Government

tree icon Save a tree - use a digital answer format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow) or font (avoid blackmore, brodfont dear or other ornate artistic fonts). Save frequently as you work. Or perhaps you have the resources to record verbal answers. If you do, be sure to first read / record the question. Then record the answer immediately after it. Make your own answer sheet.

Proof your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets worck. smiling icon