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National Direct Democracy Conference
 About | Panelists | Schedule | Video
"Pure democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible
with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have
been violent in their deaths." - James Madison, Federalist 10
Reflecting the Center's general interest in all aspects of elective democracy in America, the Initiative
Project sought to enrich our understanding of the means by which citizens can have a direct impact on the policy
process. The Project consisted of two primary components: a national scholarly conference and a comprehensive and
up-to-date book on the process.
On June 8-9, 2000, the Center held the National Direct Democracy Conference,
a two-day conference addressing the use of state ballot initiatives across the country.
Ballot initiatives are widespread, growing, and highly visible, but they are not without
controversy. This conference assembled a variety of perspectives and took a
comprehensive look at the many different aspects of the issue. Speakers included some of the
top ballot initiative scholars in the United States, plus numerous other observers of the
initiative process, including journalists, state politicians, consultants, and interest
group representatives.
The event was sponsored by the National Education Association, The California Teachers Association,
The Oregon Education Association, and The Washington Education Association.
The second part of the Initiative Project was the publication of the book:
Dangerous Democracy? The Battle over Ballot Initiatives in America
- Larry J. Sabato, Bruce A. Larson, Howard R. Ernst
Direct democracy is alive and growing in the form of statewide ballot initiatives. Currently, twenty-four
states allow individuals and groups to propose laws for direct voter consideration and tens of millions of
dollars flow into the initiative industrial complex each election cycle. This book assesses the health of the
initiative process through the insights of the leading initiative scholars, top journalists, and
important political consultants from across the country. The book provides a critical and balanced
look into a political mechanism that is having a profound influence on American politics.
Purchase this book from Amazon.com.
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Copyright © 2005 U.Va. Center for Politics. All rights reserved.
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