Proposing a Law in Arizona

Essay by mercury30College, UndergraduateA, September 2008

download word file, 6 pages 4.0

AbstractEach state has a slightly different system and what makes Arizona so unique from other states is that it was built on a system of Direct Democracy. Although this type of government may have its challenges, Arizonians pride themselves on their right to govern the state. No matter how [a bill or] amendment is originally proposed, it must always be approved by a majority vote of the people. (McClory, p.9) By this rule the citizens of Arizona are the ultimate authority of the Constitution. But the people are not the sole power under which a bill is created and passed. Both the citizens and the Legislature play an important role in this process.

Proposing a Law in ArizonaThe Constitution of Arizona like the Constitution of the United States is meant to govern the people under a common law. Unlike the federal Constitution, states can add or remove laws and amend their constitution easier.

Article IV in the Arizona Constitution describes the rules and methods for introducing and passing a bill. The process of creating a law is more complex then it may seem. All laws start off as a bill which means a proposed law awaiting the approval of the Legislative and the Governor’s signature. In the state of Arizona hundreds of bills are introduced every year and only about twenty percent become laws. This is due to the conservative nature, which was designed to make it easier for bills to fail rather then pass; to retard hasty and misguided measures, discourage excessive regulation, and keep the laws from changing too frequently. (McClory, p.60) The state’s citizens or the Legislature can propose a bill or constitutional amendment in addition the delegates may hold a special constitutional convention to propose an amendment to the constitution. It then becomes a ballot proposition...