Whether you know it or not, if you are a California voter, you have come into contact with Proposition 13. As the postwar boom of housing in California began to slow in the 1970s, property values skyrocketed, more than doubling from 1975 to 1980. Under normal circumstances, this would be a goldmine for homeowners. However, […]
Tag: prop 13
California Ballot Propositions: The Flaws of Direct Democracy
In 1911, California’s government was almost completely controlled by the Southern Pacific Railroad. Through bribery, this railroad company maintained a firm grip on the legislature. And then (at last!), the Progressive Movement swept the nation. The state amended its constitution to allow voters to decide directly on legislation and constitutional amendments. Political power had been […]
Propocalypse: The Governance Crisis Provoked by Direct Democracy
This year, as Californians head to the polls, like every general election, voters will be asked to decide on a slew of questions instrumental to how the state will finance crucial projects and govern pressing issues. Ballot measures may seem like a way for voters to enact laws by popular consent and serve as a […]