The initiative and referendum were progressive-era political reforms designed to weaken the power of
A)the federal government.
B)political parties.
C)state governors.
D)state legislatures.
E)the courts.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The initiative and referendum were designed to weaken the power of state legislatures, which were seen as corrupt and controlled by special interests. The initiative process allowed citizens to propose and pass laws without the support of the legislature, while the referendum allowed citizens to repeal laws passed by the legislature. These reforms gave more power to individual citizens and reduced the influence of elected officials and interest groups in the legislative process.

The Initiative and Referendum Were Progressive-Era Political Reforms Designed to Weaken