Subversion of the Many by the Few: Some Scientific Evidence on the Initiative Process

Despite its widespread appeal and long history in American government, the initiative process remains controversial. One of the most recurrent criticisms is that the initiative allows well organized and well financed special interests to subvert the policy process. This article reports some scientific evidence on the subversion hypothesis. For the period 19872000, the evidence shows that the initiative changed the course of state and local fiscal policy, but that the changes were consistent with the wishes of the majority. None of the evidence supports the subversion hypothesis. May 2003