LWVC HOME - VOTING Q&As - STATE PROPS - ABOUT LWV
ON BALLOT MEASURES:   ABOUT OUR ANALYSIS - LIST of PROPS - ELECTION '00 - SMART VOTER

LWV CA Ed Fund LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA EDUCATION FUND

PROPOSITION 24

LEGISLATORS' COMPENSATION. REAPPORTIONMENT.

Initiative Statute

Proposition 24 has been removed from the ballot
by order of the California Supreme Court.

What Happened to Proposition 24?

In a landmark ruling, the measure was found unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court, and just before the deadline, removed from the ballot. The Court said that the two sections of the initiative violated the 51-year-old "single-subject" provision of the state constitution. It was the first time the Court had struck down an initiative that had qualified but had not been voted upon for this particular violation.

Proponents had argued that their single purpose was to change a system that currently lets legislators pursue their personal interests at the public's expense--by designing their own election districts and also increasing their own pay. But Chief Justice Ronald George noted that the pay is set not by the legislature but by a Citizens Compensation Commission.

The measure was backed by California's Republican congressional delegation. (The legislature designs, and the governor approves, redistricting for California's congressional, legislative and Board of Equalization districts.) Representative William Thomas (R) and Secretary of State Bill Jones criticized the ruling for overriding the will of the voters who helped qualify the measure for the ballot, calling the decision a clear reversal of the Court's longstanding permissive interpretation of the single-subject rule.

The Court set a new precedent for the initiative process by removing a measure from the ballot, declaring that subjects covered by an initiative must be related to one theme or purpose; otherwise, according to the Court, voters will be confused and confidence in the initiative process will suffer.


On Propositions: About our Analysis - List of Props - Election '00 - Smart Voter
LWVC Home - Voting Q&As - State Props - About Us


Last updated: February 20, 2000
Send comments and suggestions concerning the content of this page to lwvcprocon@hotmail.com.
Send comments concerning the format or usability of this page to cmwatts@ibm.net

Copyright 2000 League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.