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Technology

Direct Democracy Mechanisms: Referendums, Initiatives, and Recalls

Quick fact

California's Proposition 13, passed by initiative in 1978, capped property taxes and fundamentally changed the state's fiscal landscape—a testament to the lasting power of a single ballot measure.

Why this is interesting

You may think you only have a say on election day, but in some places, citizens can pass laws, repeal taxes, and fire officials—all without their representatives. How do these direct democracy powers actually work?