Initiative Process

Initiative process is a process that allows citizens to place proposed laws or constitutional amendments directly on the ballot by collecting petition signatures from registered voters. If the proposed law or amendment is approved by voters, it becomes law. In United States, currently there are 24 states that have the initiative process. But Texas belongs to the other group, the group of 27 states that don't have the initiative process. The question that become a hotly debate is: "Should Texas adopt the Initiative process?"

On one hand, there are some arguments in favor of adopting an Initiative Process. They argue that adopting the initiative process increases the involvement of citizens and reduces the power of special interests in government and politics. And they also argue that the initiative process makes government more responsive to the people.

On the other hand, there also some strong arguments against adopting an Initiative Process. They argue that adopting the initiative process increases the power of special interests because special interests can sponsor it. They also argue that the initiative process subjects the minority to the tyranny of the majority and the initiative process also reduces the power of the legislature and the deliberation and compromise that occur in the legislature process.

So, what effect would the adoption of an initiative process have on political participation and democracy in Texas? Texas has about 13 millions voters, but become the state that has lowest turn out rate of vote in United States. If Texas adopts an initiative process, either direct or indirect, it might motivate political participation by energizing citizens with a sense of civic duty and political efficacy. In my opinion, the initiative process can mobilize people who ordinarily didn't want to or wouldn't be part of political process. Most of the time, a lot of people think that even if they participate in politics, it won't do anything good when the state legislature don't listen to them. But if we give those citizens the power of initiative process to their hand - which is a simple and powerful tool to raise their voice and decide the fate of any law, things might change. And also with a state like Texas, the state that has 35% population of Hispanic and has a very high rate of immigration in United States, immigrants always a big issue. When you give the citizens the tool, either to tighten immigration law, or to loosen immigration law as the Hispanic population wills, the citizens will definitely use that tool and it will definitely boot up the state political participation rate. Especially for the Hispanic population who don't often vote or participate in politics, with the initiative process that help them to propose and vote for any particular law, especially law about immigration, they will participate in it.

So how about democracy? What effect of the adoption of an initiative process will have on democracy in Texas? As we know that one of the big attraction of Texas is political freedom. But it is strange that Texas don't have initiative process. If Texas adopts initiative process, which is a form of direct democracy, we can say it literarily increase democracy in Texas. With the initiative process, which includes mass citizen participation, with the public being asked to decide public issues by a direct vote, it is the closest to perfect democracy system that I can think of. The initiative process will also might increase the political participation of minorities by encourage their desire to raise their voice, propose law and vote for it.

And, another question, what effect would the adoption of an initiative process have on the power of special interests in Texas? This is an interesting question since the textbook point out that the initiative process can both reduce and increase the power of special interests. The initiative process evolved as an attempt to reduce the control of special interests in political process. But it's ironically that today many special interest groups use the initiative process to achieve goals they cannot obtain through the legislature. In my opinion, the initiative process will increase the power of special interests slightly but and in a controllable level. And if Texas adopt an appropriate initiative process, the process will not be affect much by special interests.

So, in the end, to answer the question "Should Texas adopt initiative process?", after consideration about advantages of the process, including the freedom of democracy that it bring to citizens, and disadvantages of the process, I think the answer is "Yes". How about you? What do you think is the answer?