BILL NUMBER: SCR 58	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator La Malfa
   (Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Berryhill, Blakeslee, Dutton,
Emmerson, Gaines, Harman, Huff, Padilla, Runner, Strickland, Walters,
and Wyland)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bill Berryhill, Conway, Grove,
Knight, Nielsen, Valadao, and Wagner)

                        AUGUST 25, 2011

   Relative to California's initiative history.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 58, as introduced, La Malfa. California's initiative history.
   This measure would commemorate the 100-year anniversary of
California's initiative process.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, In 1911, the State Constitution of California was amended
to establish an initiative process; and
   WHEREAS, The initiative process bestows the people with the
ability to participate directly in the making of legislation; and
   WHEREAS, As described in The California Initiative Process:
Background and Perspective by J. Fred Silva, the initiative process
gives voters "a power equal to the power" of the legislative branch;
and
   WHEREAS, The establishment of the initiative process in California
comprised part of a movement toward direct democracy that was
increasingly popular in the late 19th century; and
   WHEREAS, Initially, the State Constitution of California provided
for a direct and indirect initiative process; and
   WHEREAS, The direct initiative process bypasses the legislative
process, permitting the people to directly enact statutory or
constitutional law; and
   WHEREAS, Section 8 of Article II of the State Constitution of
California continues to provide for the direct initiative process;
and
   WHEREAS, The indirect initiative process permitted voters to
submit a proposed measure to the Legislature for its passage; and
   WHEREAS, The indirect initiative is no longer provided for by the
State Constitution of California, having been removed in 1966; and
   WHEREAS, The direct initiative process has been successfully
utilized, enacting both statutory and constitutional provisions
alike, directly reflecting the will of the voters; now, therefore, be
it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature celebrate the one-hundred
year anniversary of California's initiative process; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.