Abstract
In this article, the writer examines the originators of the affirmative action ballot measure and evaluates their authority, credibility, and probable motives.

From the Paper
"The states of Arizona Colorado Missouri Nebraska and Oklahoma had proposed ballot initiatives that would allow voters to decide whether affirmative action would be eliminated in government-funded projects and public schools. The originator of the movement is Ward Connerly an African-American American Indian who heads up the American Civil Rights Coalition a non profit organization working to end racial and gender preferences. Royce Connerly who suffered discrimination as a youth ..."

Tags:affirmative action, ballot measures, Connerly, Missouri, California, Proposition 209

Abstract
This paper uses the case of Florida to illustrate how ballot initiatives, while originally intended as a means to enhance the process of direct democracy, have instead become a process whereby those who can afford to spend more money have a greater chance of getting a ballot initiative through the process successfully or of derailing the process if they oppose the initiative. The paper also briefly examines other states that have experienced the same type of corruption of the ballot initiatives and concludes that, while the ballot initiative was originally conceived as a form of direct democracy, the process has become so corrupted that it now works counter to the interests of the people.

From the Paper
"Ballot initiatives have constituted a sort of shorthand for American democracy, in some quarters, since the late 1960s. It was then that Florida's new Constitution provided for the citizens of the state to be able to amend or revise the state's constitution by ballot initiative, which was also called direct democracy. Many observers make a distinction between a democracy and a republic, noting that a republic is government of the people exercised through their elected representatives, while democracy may be carried out through elected representatives or directly. Still, direct democracy sounds redundant and, arguably, the way ballot initiatives have been co-opted by large corporate entities and wealthy individuals with their own agendas, these days the term direct democracy is also inaccurate."

Tags:referendum, process, election, representative, government, signatures, petitioners

Abstract
This paper examines the impact of citizen initiatives and ballot referendums in political elections in the United States. It argues that culture, political environment and the competitive dynamic of ballot proposals impact the results of citizen initiatives. It also evaluates the outcome of the Nevada initiatives from a few relevant theoretical perspectives to make broader generalizations about why question 5 was successful in the 2006 election. (The author provides brief explanations of questions 4 and 5.)

From the Paper
"Nevada was historically Democratic until the early 1960s when the state began to divide politically, narrowly voting for John Kennedy in 1960 and Richard Nixon in 1968. Nevada state politics have been volatile over the past two decades, with sharp individualist newcomers leaning the state Republican in the 1980s due to heavy business interests. Since supporting Ronald Reagan with more than 60% of the popular vote in the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections, Nevada voters have favored Republicans with a libertarian but often culturally conservative streak (Barone and Cohen 2003). Though it also supported George Bush with 59% of the popular vote in the 1988 presidential election, Nevada gave its electoral votes to Bill Clinton twice in the 1990s. There are 361,465 registered Democrats and 368, 673 registered Republicans in the state, showing that neither party has a sizeable advantage in Nevada (Barone and Cohen 2003). The most influential political actors in the state are Senior Senator Harry Reid (D), Junior Senator John Ensign (R) and Governor Kenny Guinn (R). Before the 2006 elections Reid was the democratic whip in the senate, though he has never won an election by more than 51%. Most state-wide elections in Nevada are heated because of the high citizen turnover rate, making it unlikely that any of the key political actors will take stands on a public initiative (Barone 2003). It is in their interests to remain neutral rather than take sides on such a controversial issue."

Tags:democracy, vote, senator

Abstract
This paper describes the work and viewpoint of the woman suffragist, Amelia Bloomer, focusing on her famous speech, "Woman's Right to the Ballot." First, the paper discusses who Bloomer was and how she presented her opinions in a rational and organized fashion. Then, the paper shows how Bloomer exemplified the new middle class woman who strove to be heard and represented through the right to vote. Additionally, the paper notes how Bloomer needed to think like a man to get her message across. Bloomer addressed men in her speech, appealing to their sense of logic as a way to convey her message. Next the paper points out that Bloomer was not afraid of letting men know where they have gone wrong. The paper concludes by stating that Amelia Bloomer was a role model for women in her day because she was speaking out for a basic right that women should have been afforded but were not.

From the Paper
"Bloomer was a forward thinker blessed with a husband that supported her activities. She was given a certain amount of freedom that most women did not enjoy and she used to her best advantage. She was Linda Steiner asserts that while Bloomer was writing for The Lily, a women's suffrage publication, she "articulated and dramatized a new kind of middle-class woman, a 'sensible woman . . . active, healthy, sensibly dressed women, in place of the waxen-faced, wasp-like beflowered and befurbelowed caricatures of women'" (Steiner). Bloomer expressed the notion that women could be active in matters outside the home wile still being a wife and mother. The Lily illustrates how Bloomer and others used "language not only to motivate and recruit women but to reinforce gender roles and beliefs as well" (Baker). Bloomer did take the position that women should be allowed to vote, she also believed that women should demonstrate that they are worthy of that right. Steiner points out that while Bloomer praised the women that supported prohibition..."

Tags:women's suffrage, women's rights

Abstract
This paper looks at the social and racial context contained in Malcolm X's speech known as "The Ballot or the Bullet". The writer looks at Malcolm X, his background, and influence on the civil rights movement in the 1960s in America. The speech explores issues of race, black power, government, and the potential for social change.

From the Paper
"Of course, Malcolm X proposes a concrete plan for his fellowmen to promote social changes in the black American society. He believes in the power and influence of the United Nations in acting as intermediary for the black American society and the US government to negotiate about their proposed changes in the American society, since, according to Malcolm X, "[w]hen you take your case to Washington D.C., you're asking it to the criminal who's responsible? They're all in cahoots together." Apart from seeking the help of the UN, he also proposes that his fellowmen empower themselves in the country and against the forces that oppress them (the government) by becoming self-reliant economically and being assertive enough to illicit fear among these oppressive powers."

Tags:society, black, white, american, african, race

Abstract
Three views on integration are provided by the Supreme Court (Brown v. Board of Education), Malcolm X "Ballots or bullets" and Martin Luther King "Non-Violence" In light of events over the past 40-50 years since these events it would seem that integration has made progress and that the Supreme Court's view of equality is the one which has been mostly accomplished.

From the Paper
Three Views on Integration: Brown v Board of Education, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X The decades of the 1950s and 1960s were a watershed in the history of race relations and Civil Rights activism in the United States. Looking back from the 21^st Century we can see three distinct strands of thought, each of which we can now study in light of the changes in our society over the past 40 or 50 years. During the 1950's and 60's a series of court decisions and new laws were enacted to outlaw racial discrimination. These began most famously with the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. The Board of Education of

Tags:equality, integration, segregation

Abstract
This paper explains that the Republicans were represented by Rutherford B. Hayes, while the Democrats were represented by Samuel B. Tilden. The author points out that the 1876 election, a highly publicized and explosive battle between the Democrats and the Republicans, took place ten years after the Civil War, a crucial time for the United States of America. The paper compares the election of 1876 and the election of 2000; a candidate had to face defeat in the jaws of victory, the electoral votes were in dispute in the state of Florida, and the outgoing president tainted with scandals had completed two terms in office.

Table of Contents
Introduction: What Is an Election?
Brief Study of the 1876 Election
History of the 1876 Election

From the Paper
"The Democratic Party believed that the Republicans stood to lose due to the record levels of corruption in the administration of President Grant. The Democratic Party also believed that people were tired of the Republican Party as they were responsible for the economic crisis, which had hit the nation and had left them all suffering as a result. The republicans were also hated due to their constant quotation of the term reconstruction. Reconstruction was something, which the southern states, hated, as they had to adapt according to the plans laid out by the reconstruction process."

Tags:college, electrol, hayes, tilden, florida

Abstract
Examines the 2000 California ballot measure. Presents argument for and against the "get-tough" initiative which passed. Changes in the juvenile justice system resulting from Prop 21. Legal definition of juvenile. Philosophy of juvenile courts. Issues of public safety, youth gangs, growing violence of juvenile crimes, treatment of juveniles. Contends the inititative is flawed.

From the Paper
"Juvenile crime has become one of America's most prominent issues, even as the overall crime rate has declined to the lowest point in decades. Several celebrated cases have helped create an image of teenagers run amok and younger and younger kids committing major felonies. Once apprehended, these children enter a juvenile justice system that many claim utilizes an outdated approach. In some cases, murderers have gone free at age 25 simply because that is the incarceration limit for the juvenile justice system.


In response, an advocacy group placed a get-tough measure (called Proposition 21) on the California ballot. This initiative, which passed overwhelmingly (62 percent to 38 percent), calls for dramatic changes in the juvenile justice system. This paper will examine Proposition 21, highlighting the..."

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that voting fraud has always been a concern in U. S. elections. However, the writer points out that during the last few years, concerns over electronic voting and the possibility of fraud has sparked heated debates that continue today. The writer discusses the two different types of electronic voting systems, the optical scan system and the touch-screen system. The writer maintains that the success of the system of elections is based on three premises: the secrecy of the ballot, safeguards against fraud, and safeguards against voter intimidation. The writer concludes that, while criticism still echoes concerning electronic voting machines, butterfly ballots, chads and other twentieth century voting technology have all but disappeared.

From the Paper
"Internet voting is the process by which a voter casts his/her ballot on a personal computer that then electronically sends the ballot to the election office. While this system has the greatest potential for making election more convenient and accessible, it also presents major concerns surrounding the verifiability and security given the overall vulnerability of the Internet environment. Most agree that Internet voting is far too risky for general implementation, however as advances in encryption and other security measures are made, Internet voting will likely become more prevalent. The Defense Department is leading the way in resolving Internet security measures with several experiments and pilot projects. For example, to improve voting opportunities of overseas military personnel, the Defense Department conduct an experiment called Voting Over the Internet Pilot Project during the election of 2000, and planned another called the Secure Electronic Registration and Voting Experiment during the 2004 election, however this project was cancelled before the 2004 election due to unresolved security issues."

Tags:record, votes, security, computer

Abstract
This paper explains that the state of Arizona is attempting to pass an "English First" referendum, which would require that only English is used on ballots. The author feels that the "English First" referendum represents a subversion of civil liberties guaranteed to all citizens of any creed or color under the Bill of Rights. This paper states that the purpose of this proposal is to establish a system of data collection that would penetrate the effects of such a referendum upon the psyche of Spanish-speaking voters. The paper seeks funding to complete this research and presents a brief technical outline of the project.

From the Paper
"The "English First" referendum is essentially duplicitous by nature; in promoting English, it is demoting other languages to beyond a secondary status. In fact, many perceive it as a direct threat to all other spoken languages in Arizona- in relegating Spanish to merely a "home spoken" language, many Spanish speaking families contend that the "English First" referendum would serve only to remove Spanish speakers from the democratic process and the spheres of public life. Concerns also have been voiced regarding the threats to tolerance among the races that may be inherent in any referendum that seeks to denounce specific cultural attributes as not merely inappropriate, but unlawful."

Tags:questionnaire, proposal, spanish, vote, rights