Indirect initiated state statute

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An indirect initiated state statute has the following characteristics:

(1) It is citizen-initiated, through the collection of signatures.
(2) Once the signatures are collected, the proposed law is sent to that state's state legislature.
(3) Depending on the specific laws in that state, the state legislature typically can either choose:

• Not to act on the measure at all, in which case the measure is placed on the state's statewide ballot and the voters decide its fate.
• To pass the law as written by the group that initiated it.
• To amend and then pass the law.
• To come up with a law of its own addressing the same subject as the citizen-initiated measure and place that law on the ballot along with the citizen-initiated measure, allowing the state's voters to choose the version they prefer.^[1]

States with indirect initiated statutes

Currently there are nine American states that allow this type of initiative:

• Alaska. Alaska only allows the indirect initiative statute.
• Maine. Indirect only.
• Massachusetts. Indirect only.
• Michigan. Indirect only. In Michigan, statutes are indirect but constitutional amendments are direct.
• Nevada. Indirect only.
• Ohio. Indirect only.
• Utah. Utah allows direct and indirect initiated state statutes.
• Washington. Washington allows direct and indirect initiated state statutes.
• Wyoming. Indirect only.

Other types of ballot measures

Automatic ballot referral Bond issue Commission-referred constitutional amendment Constitutional convention

Initiated state statute Indirect initiated state statute Indirect initiative Indirect initiative amendment

Legislative referral Legislatively-referred state statute Legislatively-referred constitutional amendment Veto referendum

See also

• Forms of direct democracy in the American states