Legislative referral
Process to put legislation up for a vote of the people
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Through Legislature, Constitution and Statute
An instrument of direct democracy, it is in contrast to citizens (or "bottom-up") initiative that is initiated from the public. With initiated statutes and amendments, voters both initiate and decide on the change of law. In a legislative referral, they only approve or reject laws which their legislature votes to place before them.
United States
Bond issues are a common type of legislatively referred ballot measure. In some states, such as Oregon, if the state legislature in both chambers vote to put a measure on the ballot, the governor is not allowed to veto their action.
State statute
Twenty-three American states have a provision for referring statutory measures to the public as a ballot measure.
State constitutional amendment
Almost all legislatures in states and territories in the United States have the power to put state constitutional amendments to a referendum. In most cases these are mandatory referendums, meaning that a referendum is a legal requirement in order for the amendment to be ratified.
Delaware is the only state in which the people do not have the power to vote on constitutional amendments. Only the Delaware legislature may vote on amendments.