Constitutional Reform in California: The Surprising Divides

Abstract

THE CALIFORNIA Journal of Politics & Policy Volume 2, Issue 2 Constitutional Reform in California: The Surprising Divides Mike Binder, Tammy M. Frisby, and Thad Kousser Stanford University and University of California, San Diego Abstract In a survey of over 1,000 Californians, we found substantial divides in public opin- ion on issues related to constitutional change. Beyond partisan differences, there are racial and ethnic divides as well as unexpected differences between counties. Latinos and Asian-Americans (the growing “new” California electorate) are less dissatisfied with the initiative process, less eager to change California’s constitu- tion to restrict direct democracy, and more likely to be unsure about their views on constitutional reform than whites and African-Americans (the “old” California electorate). This article also explores surprising geographic patterns in support and opposition to proposed reforms, such as the elimination of the two-thirds require- ment for passing the state budget. KEYWORDS: c onstitutional reform, public opinion, direct democracy Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the William and Flora Hew- lett Foundation for supporting the survey on which this article is based and Stanford University’s Bill Lane Center for the American West, which provided fellowship support to the authors as part of the Center’s California Constitutional Reform Proj- ect. www.bepress.com/cjpp