How Arizona's state government works, including initiative, referendum and recall
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet
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's group has 70,000 signatures. In this made-up year, 1,000,000 votes were cast for governor. What can the group file?
- No petition, because each needs over 100,000
- A referendum petition only; it needs 50,000
- A law petition and a referendum; a law needs 70,000
- Law, amendment and referendum petitions, since 70,000 beats the smallest
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.
The legislature passed a law and the governor signed it. Esme and neighbors want voters to decide. Which step and deadline apply?
- A referendum petition, filed at least four months before the election
- A referendum petition, filed within ninety days after the legislature adjourns
- An initiative petition, filed at least four months before the next general election
- A recall petition against the governor, which cancels the law
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 lists steps for an initiative. Which order matches the card?
- Write the measure, gather signatures, vote, and the governor signs it into law
- Write the measure, gather signatures, file at least four months early, vote
- Vote, gather signatures, file at least four months early, write the measure
- Write the measure, file it with the secretary of state, gather signatures, vote
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.
Kira looks for a check of one branch on another. Which pair of facts from the card shows that?
- The governor can veto a bill, and two-thirds of each house can override
- Justices serve six years, and the governor cannot appoint anyone
- The legislature writes the court's rulings, and the governor reviews them
- The supreme court passes bills, and the governor vetoes them
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.
A flyer says, "Five percent of Arizona residents can cancel a law." Luz checks the card. What does the flyer get wrong?
- The percent is of votes cast for governor, not of residents
- It must be filed four months before an election
- Nothing, because residents and voters are the same group
- The percent should be 10, not 5, because this is a referendum
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.
Milo reads that the Navajo Nation reorganized its government in 1991 into three branches. Which statement is supported?
- Its government has executive, legislative and judicial branches
- Its government began in 1991 and had no earlier form
- Its three branches work exactly like the state's branches
- Arizona's governor appoints the judges of the Navajo Nation's courts
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.
Noah sees the legislature pass a law, the governor veto it, and voters later pass the same idea by initiative. What does that show?
- Voters can overrule the supreme court on any law
- The governor can still veto an initiative within five days of the vote
- Voters can write law without the legislature or the governor's veto
- The legislature must approve the initiative first
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. Source card "Arizona timeline: recall of judges". Who made it: the US Senate, in its States in the Senate series. When: today. Where: Washington, DC. For whom: readers today. Why: to list the steps by which states joined the Senate. Summary in our words, not a quotation: In December 1911 the people voted to remove the recall of judges from the constitution, and after statehood the voters reinstated it. Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912.
Pia reads that voters removed the recall of judges in 1911 and restored it after statehood. What does that show about Arizona's constitution?
- Voters can change the constitution without any rules
- Congress alone could change the constitution, so Taft's veto settled it in 1911
- Voters could change the constitution themselves, so they changed it twice
- The governor removed and restored the recall by order
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. Source card "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.
Ren reads that recall applies to every elected officer, and that Taft objected in 1911 to the recall of judges. Which statement is supported?
- Taft proved that recall of judges fails in practice
- Because recall covers elected officers, judges were within its reach
- Recall applied to the governor and legislators, not to judges
- Recall covered judges because Taft wrote it into Arizona's constitution
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.
Zee counts Arizona lawmakers: 30 districts each elect one senator and two representatives. How many lawmakers total must vote to override a veto?
- 60 lawmakers: 20 senators and 40 representatives
- 90 lawmakers, the full membership of both houses
- 40 lawmakers, two-thirds of the house alone
- 45 lawmakers, half of the 90 members