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I know Thanksgiving was a few weeks ago, but I want to give a special thanks to the Power of Referendum. The constitutional right to alter legislation by referendum is profound and fundamental. Allow me a little pedantry here, and let me quote exactly from a few State Constitutions:

“All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require.” Isn’t that beautiful! Straight from the California Constitution.

The Washington Constitution uses similar words with, “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”

And then Oregon— “We declare that all men, when they form a social compact are equal in right: that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; and they have at all times a right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper. “

Did you know we (the People) had that kind of power? It really is remarkable if you think about it. Though not stated explicitly, the power to enact a referendum stems directly from the ideas encapsulated in the quotes above. Of course the procedural details may vary from state to state, but the concept is the same. Since it is California’s SB777 and AB 394 that I’m worried about right now, let me give a few details on the California referendum. In California, the referendum must be presented to the Secretary of State within 90 days after the enactment date and must be accompanied by a petition signed by at least 5 percent of the previous gubernatorial election’s participating electorate. The petition presented to the Secretary of state will ask that the statute in question be presented before the voters.

Referendum power provides a real way for California voters to repeal SB777 and AB394. People are working on it as I write. How many days left now?