[editor-surveyor]

"Since the prop system was devised as a way to bypass the state legislature..."

California has never been without the Initiative and Referendum processes.

[Amerigomag]

California has never been without the Initiative and Referendum processes.

An enlightening search string is Hiram Johnson. Johnson's 1911 contributions to California's constitutional processes have endured.

Their corruption began in the 1980's and today, 20 years later, they have devolved into a standard tool of the governing class, to sidestep original protections and intent.

Maintenance of due process protections requires constant vigilence. Three easy steps can be implemented to return the original intent of the legislation:

1) Time: Adequate time for judicial review before presentaion to the voters

2) Strict Interpretation: A through review of the proposal to assure strict compliance with the single issue clause.

3) Super-Majority Status: Those matters involving taxation or significant expenditures should require super-majority approval to conform to original intent and existing, constitutional protections.

[LexBaird]

California has never been without the Initiative and Referendum processes.

So? My point was more about how it has become a commonplace thing, rather than a rarity. That the public feels the need to employ it so much reflects poorly on the legislature, whose job it is to be addressing these things.