Which statement best describes the difference between an initiative and a referendum?

Which statement best describes the difference between an initiative and a referendum?

• A. An initiative is a ballot measure placed on the ballot via citizen petition or rule by the legislature; a referendum is proposed by the legislature to be approved by voters
• B. An initiative is always created by the governor
• C. A referendum cannot be challenged in court
• D. An initiative only appears on the ballot in federal elections

Answer: (A)

The difference centers on who starts the ballot measure and what is being decided. An initiative is a ballot measure brought to voters by citizens who gather signatures to place a proposed law or constitutional amendment on the ballot; in some systems, the legislature can also trigger an initiative by referring a proposal to voters. A referendum, on the other hand, is a measure that the legislature puts to voters for approval or rejection, usually to confirm or overturn a law it has enacted. So the initiative is about citizens (or sometimes the legislature referencing them) creating a new ballot item, while a referendum is the legislature asking voters to approve or reject something it has proposed or enacted.

The difference centers on who starts the ballot measure and what is being decided. An initiative is a ballot measure brought to voters by citizens who gather signatures to place a proposed law or constitutional amendment on the ballot; in some systems, the legislature can also trigger an initiative by referring a proposal to voters. A referendum, on the other hand, is a measure that the legislature puts to voters for approval or rejection, usually to confirm or overturn a law it has enacted. So the initiative is about citizens (or sometimes the legislature referencing them) creating a new ballot item, while a referendum is the legislature asking voters to approve or reject something it has proposed or enacted.