Discuss the means through which the initiative, referendum, and the recall election enable citizens to actively participate in politics at the local and state level.

What will be an ideal response?

Initiatives allow citizens to force constitutional amendments or laws to be placed on the ballot. To do so requires that they first obtain the requisite number of signatures on petitions. If an initiative receives a majority vote it becomes law, thus allowing citizens to completely bypass state legislatures. Through referendums, bills that have already been passed by state legislatures are submitted to the people for approval. In some states, citizens can call for a referendum on controversial issues and in some cases state legislatures can call for referendums on issues they feel the people should decide directly. Recall elections permit voters to remove elected officials from office prior to the conclusion of their term. As with initiatives, recall elections first require a petition.