Crandi

A Case For Responsibly Expanding Citizen Led Policymaking In The

Leo Migdal
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a case for responsibly expanding citizen led policymaking in the

For generations, direct democracy has offered a means for citizens in the United States and around the world to shape the policy agenda and enact or repeal laws independently of legislatures. These tools typically fall into three categories: opportunities for direct democracy that are required by state or national constitutions (“by law” instruments), those in which government bodies or leaders let citizens ratify or reject... Over the last century, the use of these direct democracy tools has increased in countries around the world. Between the turn of the twentieth century, when some U.S. states began to adopt direct democracy, and 2010, the worldwide prevalence of direct democracy almost quadrupled. According to the Direct Democracy Navigator, more than 2,000 instruments for direct democracy exist at the national, regional, and local levels in more than 100 countries.

In the United States, “bottom up” direct democracy—also known as ballot initiatives—emerged during the Populist and Progressive movements as a response to political corruption and corporate power. Designed to give ordinary people a direct role in governance, 20 states adopted initiative processes by 1920. But with the onset of the Great Depression, the movement stalled. Today, half of U.S. states, home to the majority of Americans, have no access to statewide direct democracy. And although the U.S.

ranks second globally in its aggregate use of direct democracy, it remains one of the only advanced democracies never to have held a national referendum. Switzerland, by contrast, permits citizens to propose an amendment or addition to the Constitution and call for a referendum on new federal laws and certain international treaties. Citizens can also vote on constitutional amendments approved by Parliament and memberships of some international organizations. Beyond the national level, Switzerland has 36 provisions for direct democracy at the local level, and more than 100 at the regional level. Switzerland’s subnational direct democracy tradition dates back to the early sixteenth century and inspired many of the first American advocates of direct democracy. In the United States today, ballot initiatives are popular with voters, used widely, and have the potential to transform policy.

Yet only 26 states have laws allowing for some form of initiative, leaving millions of voters without a direct voice in state policymaking. Of those 26 states, only 24 allow citizen-initiated statutes or amendments, and only 21 are currently usable (see Figure 1). ) Brief Anatoliy Tesouro via Shutterstock By Maresa Strano June 12, 2025 Introduction For generations, direct democracy has offered a means for citizens in the United States and around the world to shape the... read full story Answer for your question of the article will be displayed here ... OECD Discussion Paper: “… starts from the premise that democracies are endowed with valuable assets and that putting citizens at the heart of policy making offers an opportunity to strengthen democratic resilience.

It draws on data, evidence and insights generated through a wide range of work underway at the OECD to identify systemic challenges and propose lines of action for the future. It calls for greater attention to, and investments in, citizen participation in policy making as one of the core functions of the state and the ‘life force’ of democratic governance. In keeping with the OECD’s strong commitment to providing a platform for diverse perspectives on challenging policy issues, it also offers a collection of thoughtprovoking opinion pieces by leading practitioners whose position as elected... As a contribution to an evolving field, this Discussion Paper offers neither a prescriptive framework nor a roadmap for governments but represents a step towards reaching a shared understanding of the very real challenges... It is also a timely invitation to all interested actors to join forces and take concerted action to embed meaningful citizen participation in policy making…(More)”. Did you come across – or create – a compelling project/report/book/app at the leading edge of innovation in governance?

Share it with us at info@thelivinglib.org so that we can add it to the Collection! Hey guys, big brother here, and let’s chat about something that’s really on my mind, and I bet it’s on yours too: the way American society feels more and more divided these days. Political polarization, the rise of populism – it’s like watching a really intense, sometimes confusing, drama unfold right before our eyes. Back in my university days, things felt a bit different, but even then, the seeds of these discussions were being planted. It makes you wonder, right, about where we’re headed and who’s going to lead us there. That’s why I think what places like Cornell University are doing is so incredibly important.

They’re not just sitting back and watching; they’re actively trying to create spaces where we can actually talk about these big, challenging issues. A perfect example of this was their recent event at the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, where they hosted Director Mick Mulvaney. Your friendly editor sees this as a clear signal that universities understand their crucial role in fostering civil discourse and, more importantly, in preparing the next generation of leaders. Mulvaney, who served in pretty high-profile roles, including as acting White House Chief of Staff during the first Trump administration, was there as the 2025-2026 John W. Nixon ’53 Distinguished Policy Fellow.

He gave a keynote address on “The Rise of Populism in America and Why It Is Happening,” which, let’s be honest, is a title that immediately grabs your attention, isn’t it? He dove into a whole range of topics, giving students a real insider’s perspective on Republican politics and the intricacies of the Trump administration. From the feasibility of third-party candidates to the nuances of the national debt crisis, and even who might succeed President Trump – the discussion was broad and, from what I gather, quite lively. What really stands out to your friendly editor here is Cornell’s commitment to ensuring students are exposed to all sorts of perspectives, even those that might challenge their own beliefs. It’s not about endorsing any single viewpoint, but about creating an environment where future leaders can grapple with diverse ideas, learn to think critically, and develop the dialogue skills they’ll need later in life. Honestly, that’s what a top-notch university should be doing, right?

It’s about equipping students to not just observe these national trends but to actively participate in shaping informed responses to them. So, building on that, let’s dive a bit deeper into this whole populism thing, because Director Mulvaney’s talk really got me thinking about how complex it all is. When he mentioned how both left and right-wing populist movements are reshaping policymaking, it just clicked for me. It’s not a simple, one-sided story; it’s a multifaceted beast, and understanding it requires looking at it from all angles, which is exactly what these academic discussions aim to do. "Amid deepening political dysfunction and distrust, ballot initiatives offer a time-tested mechanism for democratic correction and renewal. At the state level, ballot initiatives— sometimes referred to as direct democracy, citizen-initiated ballot measures, and initiative and referendum (or I&R), among other terms—allow voters to expand the policy agenda by proposing and voting...

Initiatives provide opportunities for direct democratic engagement and the ability to bypass state legislatures when necessary to advance policies with wide support in the electorate. “Expanding Citizen-Led Policy in the United States,” a project of New America’s Political Reform program, explores the uneven landscape of citizen-led policymaking in the United States, the feasibility and advantages of expanding ballot initiative... While 26 states provide for at least one form of statewide citizen-initiated ballot measure, the rest of the country, home to about half of all U.S. residents, lacks any initiative access at the state level. This collection features resources, reports, and articles on expanding the number of U.S. states that allow ballot initiatives."

In the map below, the “Current Landscapes” tab shows the status of initiatives and referenda in the states that currently have some type of direct democracy at the state level. We categorized each of these states by the level of access they provide to direct democracy and the barriers they impose to actually using initiatives or referenda. States without any state-level direct democracy mechanism are shown in gray. For these states, the “State Readiness” map shows the degree to which they may be poised for adopting citizen-initiated ballot measures based on a scoring system that incorporates various indicators capturing the feasibility of... For more information on this score, see the Methodology section below. We developed a scoring system to identify the most promising states for the expansion of citizen-initiated ballot measures.

Based on a review of historical patterns, political science research, interviews with reform scholars and practitioners, and recent organizing experience, we conceptualized a state’s readiness for initiatives based on two dimensions: feasibility of adoption... The feasibility dimension refers to factors associated with a higher likelihood of adopting ballot initiatives, as established by previous research on the topic, and to factors that would facilitate the work of people on... The impact dimension refers to factors that indicate places where ballot initiatives could have a greater impact because citizens have a greater difficulty expressing their views through the usual electoral channels. The role of government officials requires not only immediate response and recovery when issues arise but also long-term planning to mitigate future risks. The complexity of these tasks is compounded by the need to balance limited resources, navigate bureaucratic hurdles, and address the diverse needs of the community. Each challenge presents unique obstacles, whether it’s managing the aftermath of a hurricane, supporting local businesses during a recession, or coordinating a public health response.

The pressure on local officials to act swiftly and effectively can be immense, underscoring the need for robust, adaptable strategies. Resilience is not solely the responsibility of local governments; it also relies on the active participation and engagement of residents. When communities are prepared and empowered, they can respond more effectively to crises, reducing reliance on external aid and accelerating recovery. Citizen-led initiatives play a pivotal role in enhancing community resilience by fostering local involvement and innovation.

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