How Arizona's state government works, including initiative, referendum and recall
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
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?
- A law petition and a referendum; a law needs 70,000
- No petition, because each needs over 100,000
- Law, amendment and referendum petitions, since 70,000 beats the smallest
- A referendum petition only; it needs 50,000
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 "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.
Bo reads that a town mayor race drew 8,400 votes, while 1,500,000 votes went to governor statewide. How many signatures does a recall of the mayor need?
- 2,100 signatures
- 840 signatures
- 375,000 signatures
- 21,000 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.
Jun lists steps for an initiative. Which order matches the card?
- Write the measure, gather signatures, file at least four months early, vote
- Write the measure, file it with the secretary of state, gather signatures, vote
- Write the measure, gather signatures, vote, and the governor signs it into law
- Vote, gather signatures, file at least four months early, write the measure
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 supreme court passes bills, and the governor vetoes them
- Justices serve six years, and the governor cannot appoint anyone
- The governor can veto a bill, and two-thirds of each house can override
- The legislature writes the court's rulings, and the governor reviews 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
- Nothing, because residents and voters are the same group
- It must be filed four months before an election
- 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 three branches work exactly like the state's branches
- Its government began in 1991 and had no earlier form
- Arizona's governor appoints the judges of the Navajo Nation's courts
- Its government has executive, legislative and judicial 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. 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?
- 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
- Voters can overrule the supreme court on any law
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?
- Because recall covers elected officers, judges were within its reach
- Recall covered judges because Taft wrote it into Arizona's constitution
- Recall applied to the governor and legislators, not to judges
- Taft proved that recall of judges fails in practice
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.
Tala imagines a year with 1,200,000 votes for governor. How many more signatures does a law initiative need than a referendum?
- 180,000 more signatures
- 60,000 more signatures
- 120,000 more signatures
- 12,000 more signatures
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