Adventures in Direct Democracy: The Top Ten Constitutional Lessons from the California Recall Experience

34 Pages Posted: 3 Nov 2011

See all articles by Vikram D. Amar

Vikram D. Amar

University of California, Davis - School of Law; University of Illinois College of Law

Date Written: May 2004

Abstract

California conducted an extraordinary exercise in self-government last fall. For the first time in the state's history, a gubernatorial recall measure qualified for a statewide general election. After a litigation roller coaster that came close to derailing the election for months, voters, on October 7, 2003, confronted a two-part ballot. The first part (Part One) asked whether Governor Gray Davis should be recalled from his four-year term (which had begun after his reelection in November 2002). The second part (Part Two) asked which candidate should replace him should he get fewer than 50% of the votes on the first question. When the votes were tallied, Davis had been ousted, and Arnold Schwarzenegger had been elected as his successor.

Legal analysts and political scientists have tried for months now to place October's experience into perspective. In the pages that follow, I too attempt to do so with respect to the myriad of constitutional questions raised by and during the recall. With all apologies to David Letterman, with whom I could never compete, here is my list of the Top Ten constitutional lessons that the episode teaches us.

Suggested Citation

Amar, Vikram D., Adventures in Direct Democracy: The Top Ten Constitutional Lessons from the California Recall Experience (May 2004). California Law Review, Vol. 92, No. 3, May 2004, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1952952

Vikram D. Amar (Contact Author)

University of California, Davis - School of Law ( email )

Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall
Davis, CA CA 95616-5201
United States

University of Illinois College of Law

504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, IL 61820
United States

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