Direct Democracy and the Courts

Reviews / Votes

'Miller's Direct Democracy and the Courts is a probing, well-researched, instructive, and much-needed assessment of the new politics pitting direct democracy initiative activists against the often countervailing forces of state and federal courts.' Thomas E. Cronin, Colorado College and author of Direct Democracy 'Courts play an increasingly central role in initiative politics, at both the qualification and post-election stages of the process. Initiative activists frequently bemoan this development and initiative critics generally welcome it, but outside of law reviews there has been depressingly little scholarly attention paid to it. Finally, with the publication of Ken Miller's book, we at last have a careful empirical study of the relationship between courts and direct democracy. This original and gracefully written book deserves to be widely read not only by scholars but by all citizens who live in states blessed (or cursed) with the initiative process.' Richard Ellis, Willamette University 'I think this is going to be the standard work on the relationship between the judiciary and direct democracy for a long time to come. Miller combines careful scholarship of legal issues and the judiciary with an impressive understanding of initiative politics - it is a fine piece of scholarship.' Shaun Bowler, University of California, Riverside 'Direct Democracy and the Courts is a timely and important contribution, unveiling the inherent tension between popular sovereignty as expressed by citizen lawmakers and the counter-majoritarian check of the judiciary. Scholars - as well as activists battling over ballot initiatives, such as California's Proposition 8 and other gay marriage measures - would be wise to read Miller's crisply reasoned and well-documented book.' Daniel A. Smith, University of Florida and author of Tax Crusaders and the Politics of Direct Democracy and Educated by Initiative