US History Legislation and Reforms Practice Test

Initiative is the process that lets citizens propose a new law or constitutional amendment. In places that use this method, people draft a measure, gather the required signatures, and submit it to voters on the ballot. If enough signatures are gathered and the measure passes, it becomes law or amends the constitution, often bypassing the state legislature.

Referendum, by contrast, is a vote on a law or constitutional change that the legislature has already proposed or enacted, asking voters to approve or reject it. Recall is used to remove an elected official from office before their term ends. A ballot measure is a broad term for anything presented on the ballot, which can include initiatives or referenda, but it doesn’t specify the initiating process itself.