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The Consequences Of California's '4th Branch' Of Government: The Initiative

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Part 1 The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and it lays out the framework for the federal government and the relationship between the federal government and the states. Article 4, Section 4 guarantees "to every state in the union" a republican form of government, allowing for a variety in state governance. California, as one of the most populous states in the country, has its unique governance model. In this essay, we will discuss the differences between the California and federal models, the goals of the Progressive movement, and the legal guidelines and consequences of California's "4th Branch" of government: The Initiative. A) Differences between the California and federal models Although both the California …show more content…

Legal guidelines for initiative legislation are set forth in the California Constitution and the California Elections Code. To begin the initiative process, a citizen or group of citizens must submit a proposed initiative to the Secretary of State. The initiative must be written in a specific format and contain a summary of the proposed legislation. Once an initiative is submitted, citizens must collect a certain number of signatures from registered voters in California to be eligible to vote on the initiative. The number of signatures required depends on the type of initiative and the number of registered voters in the …show more content…

Interest groups are essential to the legislative process because they represent the interests of specific groups of people and provide a means for those people to have their voices heard in government. By working to influence policymakers, interest groups help to ensure that the needs and concerns of their members are taken into account when laws are

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