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ONE HUNDRED YEARS ago Hiram Johnson, one of the most consequential governors in California’s history, called a special election. Johnson was a leader of a movement called Progressivism that reacted to America’s industrialisation by demanding women’s suffrage, direct election of United States senators (originally chosen by state legislatures) and other expansions of democracy. In this Californian election voters had to decide on three new types of balloting: referendums, recalls and initiatives. They accepted them all with enthusiasm.
And thus, in October 1911, California adopted the three tools of modern direct democracy. It was not the first state to do so. South Dakota had adopted initiatives in 1898, and Utah, Oregon, Montana, Oklahoma and other states had begun mixing their own cocktails of direct democracy from the three ingredients. Referendums, in which voters approve or reject laws already passed by a legislature, were the least radical change. Recalls, in which voters remove elected representatives and even judges in mid-term, seemed more adventurous.
Voters had to decide on three new types of balloting: referendums, recalls and initiatives. They accepted them all with enthusiasm. But initiatives (called “propositions” in California once they are listed on an actual ballot) had the most potential to turn politics upside down. They turn voters into legislators, since a successful initiative becomes statute. In states like California, initiatives can even turn voters into founding fathers who amend the state constitution. There are worlds of nuance in the detail. The package that California chose was especially powerful.

A. 어휘
consequential 중요한, 결과로서 일어나는. Progressivism 주의, 혁신주의.
industrialisation 산업화. suffrage 투표권, 參政權(참정권).
senators 상원의원. state legislatures 州立法府(주입법부). expansions 확장.
balloting 투표. referendums 국민투표. recalls 國民召還(국민소환).
initiatives 國民發議(국민발의). adopt 채택하다.
ingredients 成分(성분). radical 급진적인.
elected representatives 선출된 대표자(선출직 공직자).
“propositions” 국민제안. potential 가능성, 잠재력.
in mid-term 任期(임기)중에 있는, 재임 중인.
turn politics upside down 정치를 뒤엎어 버리다.
legislators 입법자. statute 法令(법령). founding fathers 國父(국부).
amend 수정하다.