Compact Civics
Ice Cream and Voter Dreams
8/21/2024 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Learn how referendums let voters directly influence laws in this episode.
Don’t like a law in your area? You can change it! Referendums allow voters to directly influence laws if it makes it on the ballot. Referendums can be mandatory, required for significant actions like constitutional changes, or they can be optional, proposed by the government or citizens to address specific issues. It’s a form of direct democracy that can empower the public.
Compact Civics
Ice Cream and Voter Dreams
8/21/2024 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Don’t like a law in your area? You can change it! Referendums allow voters to directly influence laws if it makes it on the ballot. Referendums can be mandatory, required for significant actions like constitutional changes, or they can be optional, proposed by the government or citizens to address specific issues. It’s a form of direct democracy that can empower the public.
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- Raise your hand if you've ever heard in New York state that it's illegal to walk around with an ice cream cone in your back pocket.
Urban legend or not, what if this law was real and you wanted it to be repealed?
Look, I don't care what kind of freaky stuff you into, it's your right to have messy pants.
Hey people, it's Cory here for some Compact Civics.
(bright music) One way to change a law is through a referendum.
A referendum is a direct vote on a ballot covering a specific issue, and there are two types.
Mandatory referendums are legally required for certain actions like ratifying your constitution, authorizing some big public spending plan, or raising taxes.
Optional referendums are proposed by the government or the people in response to a demand.
These can be legislative referrals or there's a recall.
And then there are citizen-led initiatives to propose new laws or oppose existing ones.
Referendums are direct democracy, you all.
They serve as a check on government power and give the public a voice.
