Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Law
The Educative Effects Of Direct Democracy: A Research Primer For Legal Scholars, Daniel A. Smith, Caroline J. Tolbert, Daniel C. Bowen
The Educative Effects Of Direct Democracy: A Research Primer For Legal Scholars, Daniel A. Smith, Caroline J. Tolbert, Daniel C. Bowen
University of Colorado Law Review
This article surveys recent studies by political scientists that examine the "educative effects" of ballot measures on political participation and civic engagement, as well as their impact on candidate elections. The article provides legal scholars with empirical evidence that can be used to bolster normative and theoretical claims about the process and politics of direct democracy. The authors conclude by presenting original empirical research on the effects of ballot measures on individual attitudes toward state government and political trust. The article hypothesizes that citizens who are given more opportunities to participate in politics will have more trust in state government. …