Legislative referral
 |
| Initiated |
| • Initiated constitutional amendment |
| • Initiated state statute |
| • Veto referendum |
| Legislative |
| • Legislative constitutional amendment |
| • Legislative state statute |
| • Legislative bond issue |
| • Advisory question |
| Other |
| • Automatic ballot referral |
| • Commission-referred measure |
| • Convention-referred amendment |
| Select a state from the menu below to learn more about that state's types of ballot measures. |
A legislative referral, or legislatively referred ballot measure, is a ballot measure that appears on the ballot due to a vote of the state legislature. A legislative referral can be a constitutional amendment, state statute, or bond issue.
Types of referrals
Legislatively referred amendment
A legislatively referred constitutional amendment is a legislative referral that amends a state's constitution.
Legislatures are required to seek voter approval to amend their state constitutions in 49 of 50 states. Delaware is the one state where voter approval is not required for state constitutional amendments.
The legislative rules and procedures for changing state constitutions through a referred ballot measure differ from state to state.
Legislatively referred state statute
- See also: Legislatively referred state statute
A legislatively referred state statute is a legislative referral that amends state statute. This type of ballot measure is also called legislative referendum or referendum bill.
Statutes, also referred to as state codes, are different from constitutional laws, which require voter approval in 49 states. Statutes do not require voter approval in most cases. However, in some states, certain changes require voter approval, such as those that address specific topics or those that amend voter-approved initiated state statutes. Legislatures in most states also have the option to refer a state statute to voters.
Legislatively referred bond measure
- See also: Legislatively referred bond measure
A legislatively referred bond measure is a legislative referral that issues a bond. This type of ballot measure is also called a state or municipal bond issue.
States, along with local governments, have various requirements for when voter approval is required for a bond, including general obligation bonds and revenue bonds.
Advisory question
- See also: Advisory question
An advisory question is a type of ballot measure that is non-binding, meaning the outcome of the ballot measure has no legal effect on a state's laws. This type of ballot measure is also known as an advisory referendum, advisory vote, or non-binding ballot measure.
There are various reasons for non-binding questions. Their general purpose is to allow government officials to gauge public opinion on certain policies or subjects or to encourage officials to take certain actions.
Other types of ballot measures
Most ballot measures are placed on the ballot through citizen initiatives or legislative processes. Others are placed on the ballot automatically, by a special commission, or by a state constitutional convention. The following is a list of different types of state ballot measures:
See also
- Forms of direct democracy in the American states
- Types of ballot measures
- Types of citizen-initiated ballot measures
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
- Legislatively referred state statute
- Legislatively referred bond measure
- List of ballot measures by state
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