How Arizona's state government works, including initiative, referendum and recall
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
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Arizona Constitution: initiative and referendum
Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Voters keep the power to propose laws (the initiative) and to approve or reject laws the legislature passed (the referendum). An initiative needs signatures equal to 10 percent of the votes cast for all candidates for governor at the last general election for a law, or 15 percent for a constitutional amendment. A referendum needs 5 percent, or the legislature can send a measure to the voters itself. Initiative petitions go to the secretary of state at least four months before the election; referendum petitions within ninety days after the legislature adjourns. The governor's veto does not extend to measures the voters approve. Most measures become law with a majority of the votes cast on them.
Ari imagines 1,500,000 votes for governor. A group with 160,000 signatures wants a constitutional amendment. Will the petition qualify?
- No: an amendment needs 225,000 signatures
- Yes: it meets the four-month filing rule
- Yes: 160,000 is above 10 percent, which is 150,000
- No: it needs 375,000, which is 25 percent
Arizona Constitution: initiative and referendum
Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Voters keep the power to propose laws (the initiative) and to approve or reject laws the legislature passed (the referendum). An initiative needs signatures equal to 10 percent of the votes cast for all candidates for governor at the last general election for a law, or 15 percent for a constitutional amendment. A referendum needs 5 percent, or the legislature can send a measure to the voters itself. Initiative petitions go to the secretary of state at least four months before the election; referendum petitions within ninety days after the legislature adjourns. The governor's veto does not extend to measures the voters approve. Most measures become law with a majority of the votes cast on them. Source card "Arizona Constitution: recall". Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Every elected public officer is subject to recall. A recall petition needs signatures equal to 25 percent of the votes cast at the last general election for all candidates for that office.
Bo imagines 2,000,000 votes for governor and 90,000 for county sheriff. How many more signatures does a statewide referendum need than a sheriff recall?
- 477,500 more signatures
- 22,500 more signatures
- 77,500 more signatures
- 100,000 more signatures
Taft's 1911 veto
Who made it: the National Archives, Center for Legislative Archives. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to explain a document in its collection. Summary in our words, not a quotation: On August 15, 1911, President Taft vetoed the statehood resolution in large part because Arizona's constitution allowed the recall of judges.
Esme wants to understand why recall of judges troubled Taft. Which question would a historian ask next?
- Did Congress write the recall rule for Arizona?
- When did Arizona become the 48th state?
- How many justices does the Arizona Supreme Court have?
- What did Taft's own veto message say about judges?
Arizona Constitution: initiative and referendum
Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Voters keep the power to propose laws (the initiative) and to approve or reject laws the legislature passed (the referendum). An initiative needs signatures equal to 10 percent of the votes cast for all candidates for governor at the last general election for a law, or 15 percent for a constitutional amendment. A referendum needs 5 percent, or the legislature can send a measure to the voters itself. Initiative petitions go to the secretary of state at least four months before the election; referendum petitions within ninety days after the legislature adjourns. The governor's veto does not extend to measures the voters approve. Most measures become law with a majority of the votes cast on them.
Jun reads that voters approve an initiative while the legislature and governor oppose it. Which statement is supported by the card?
- The governor's veto does not reach it, and it can become law with a majority
- The governor has five days to veto it, and then it is law
- The legislature must approve it first, and then the governor may sign it into law
- No court can ever review a measure voters approved
Kira reads a flyer: 10 percent of 4,000,000 registered voters must sign a law initiative. In fact 1,800,000 votes were cast for governor. How many signatures are needed?
- 90,000 signatures
- 400,000 signatures
- 180,000 signatures
- 270,000 signatures
Arizona Constitution: initiative and referendum
Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Voters keep the power to propose laws (the initiative) and to approve or reject laws the legislature passed (the referendum). An initiative needs signatures equal to 10 percent of the votes cast for all candidates for governor at the last general election for a law, or 15 percent for a constitutional amendment. A referendum needs 5 percent, or the legislature can send a measure to the voters itself. Initiative petitions go to the secretary of state at least four months before the election; referendum petitions within ninety days after the legislature adjourns. The governor's veto does not extend to measures the voters approve. Most measures become law with a majority of the votes cast on them. Source card "Arizona Constitution: legislature, governor and courts". Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Each of 30 legislative districts elects one senator and two representatives, so the senate has 30 members and the house has 60. The governor serves four years and may veto a bill. Two-thirds of the members elected to each house can pass a bill over the veto. A bill the governor does not return within five days (Sundays excepted) becomes law. The supreme court has seven justices with six-year terms. A vacancy is filled by the governor from nominees sent by a commission. The court declares a law unconstitutional only when sitting in banc.
A student writes, "The governor can veto any measure in Arizona." Luz revises it using the cards. Which version is accurate?
- The governor can veto bills, and nothing can override a veto
- The governor can veto any measure, and two-thirds override the measures voters approve
- The governor cannot veto bills but can veto voter measures
- The governor can veto bills, but not measures voters approve
Tribal governments in Arizona
Who made it: the Arizona Department of Education, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Navajo Nation, combined. When: today. Where: Arizona and Washington, DC. For whom: teachers, students and the public. Why: to explain who the tribal governments are. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Arizona has 22 federally recognized tribes. A federally recognized tribe has a government-to-government relationship with the United States and inherent rights of self-government. The Navajo Nation reorganized its government in 1991 into three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. Source card "Arizona Constitution: legislature, governor and courts". Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Each of 30 legislative districts elects one senator and two representatives, so the senate has 30 members and the house has 60. The governor serves four years and may veto a bill. Two-thirds of the members elected to each house can pass a bill over the veto. A bill the governor does not return within five days (Sundays excepted) becomes law. The supreme court has seven justices with six-year terms. A vacancy is filled by the governor from nominees sent by a commission. The court declares a law unconstitutional only when sitting in banc.
Milo compares two cards. Which statement best shows how tribal governments differ from state executive branches?
- A tribe's government is a branch the Arizona governor oversees
- A tribe's inherent self-government is separate from a state's branches
- Tribal governments have exactly the same powers as the Arizona governor
- The Arizona constitution created the Navajo Nation's three branches
Arizona Constitution: initiative and referendum
Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Voters keep the power to propose laws (the initiative) and to approve or reject laws the legislature passed (the referendum). An initiative needs signatures equal to 10 percent of the votes cast for all candidates for governor at the last general election for a law, or 15 percent for a constitutional amendment. A referendum needs 5 percent, or the legislature can send a measure to the voters itself. Initiative petitions go to the secretary of state at least four months before the election; referendum petitions within ninety days after the legislature adjourns. The governor's veto does not extend to measures the voters approve. Most measures become law with a majority of the votes cast on them.
Noah imagines an election on November 5. A group must file an initiative petition at least four months ahead. What is the latest date it can file?
- August 5
- November 5
- June 5
- July 5
Arizona Constitution: initiative and referendum
Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Voters keep the power to propose laws (the initiative) and to approve or reject laws the legislature passed (the referendum). An initiative needs signatures equal to 10 percent of the votes cast for all candidates for governor at the last general election for a law, or 15 percent for a constitutional amendment. A referendum needs 5 percent, or the legislature can send a measure to the voters itself. Initiative petitions go to the secretary of state at least four months before the election; referendum petitions within ninety days after the legislature adjourns. The governor's veto does not extend to measures the voters approve. Most measures become law with a majority of the votes cast on them. Source card "Arizona Constitution: recall". Who made it: the Arizona Constitution, as published by the Arizona Legislature. When: the text in force today; it first took effect at statehood in 1912. Where: Phoenix, Arizona. For whom: Arizona voters, officials and courts. Why: to set the rules of state government. Summary in our words, not a quotation: Every elected public officer is subject to recall. A recall petition needs signatures equal to 25 percent of the votes cast at the last general election for all candidates for that office.
A website says, "Arizona requires 10 percent of voters to sign for anything." Ren checks the cards. What should Ren check?
- Whether the legislature has voted on the website
- Whether the percent is higher in a leap year
- Whether the website was updated recently and who runs the website
- Which measure is meant, and which votes the percent is taken from
Tala compares recall and initiative thresholds. Which statement about the percents is accurate?
- Recall: 25 percent of that office's votes. Law: 10 percent of the governor's votes.
- Recall: 10 percent of that office's votes. Law: 25 percent of the governor's votes.
- Both use 25 percent of the votes cast for governor at the last general election
- Both use votes for governor, with 25 percent for recall and 15 percent for laws