NOTE TO STUDENTS: There is a lot of information here.  Don't get discouraged.  If you understand/remember half of what you read, you will be far ahead of most adults.  It is our privilege as Americans to vote our leaders into office, and to have a say about the laws of our land.  Take your time with the material here, and try to gain an overall understanding of the ballot measure process.  The  BACKGROUND below the questions has been provided to give you more of an understanding of the material.

1.  a) Who is John Andrews? 
b) What is he using the ballot measure process in Colorado to do? 
c) What motivated Mr. Andrews to use the ballot measure process?

2.  a) How many states allow citizens to exercise "direct democracy" in one or more forms?
b)  What type of direct democracy does your state allow? (To find out what type of direct democracy your state allows, go to the Initiative & Referendum Institute website at  IandRInstitute.org.)
c) How many (if any) ballot measures, initiatives or proposals are on your state's ballot in the upcoming election? (To learn about ballot measures that might appear on upcoming statewide ballots select your state from the map at IandRInstitute.org (scroll down for the map). You will be transferred to your state's web page - once there click on the button that says "Election Division" for the most up-to-date election information available.)

3.  a) How many measures are up for a vote througout the U.S. this November? 
b) List the issues mentioned in the article that will be voted on through the direct democracy process in this year's elections. 
c) Lynn Vincent (the reporter who wrote this article) says that the number of measures up for a vote "is a direct indicator of voter dissatisfaction with legislatures and the courts."  Do you agree?  Explain your answer. 

4.  For what issue are Arizona voters using the initiative process this November?

5.  Define eminent domain.  How many states will be voting on the issue of eminent domain in the November elections?  Why is this so?

6.  Mr. Andrews points out a drawback of direct democracy in Paragraph 8.  An example of this is described in para. 9-14.  Do you think that in this case direct democracy will help or hurt the interests of the people in the state of Missouri?  Explain your answer.

7.  Re-read para. 15-17.  Do you feel the same way about the attempt by pro-lifers in California to get Proposition 85 passed as you do about your answer to question #6?   Explain.

8.  What concern does Virginia college student Nick Timpe of Students-4-Marriage (an affiliate of VA4Marriage) have about the issue of traditional marriage?  Do you agree with his concern?  Explain your answer.

9.  Discuss this article, as well as the questions and your answers with one or both parents or adult relatives.  Ask if they know much about the "direct democracy" process and how important they think it is for voters to be aware of this process.  (Refer to the Initiative & Referendum Institute website for the "direct democracy" information pertaining to your state.)