About Us
If government OF the people is to be government FOR the people, we must have GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE!
Government by the People is a non-partisan political action committee serving as a source of information and an organizing hub for concerned citizens who want to work together across party lines to use the initiative process to reform our political system and pass legislation addressing the major problems that are not being addressed by Congress or state legislatures due to gridlock and the corrupting influence of special interests.
The Initiative is a powerful from of Direct Democracy
The initiative allows citizens to propose and pass legislation and/or amendments to state constitutions without the involvement or approval of a state legislature or governor. The process involves submitting a proposal for a law or constitutional amendment, gathering the required number of signatures on petitions to get a proposal on the ballot, and then having the voters approve it.
Twenty-four states have some form of initiative: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
The process is easier in some states than others. Some states have restrictions on what can be done through the initiative, require a greater number of signatures to place a proposal on the ballot, or require a super-majority for a proposal to become law.
Genuine Democracy
There are three reforms that are critical to making our political system more genuinely democratic: proportional representation (in legislatures), ranked-choice voting (for executive offices), and a public financing option for candidates (and voters).
If you are not familiar with proportional representation or ranked-choice voting, you are not alone. Although it is the most common form of government in democracies around the world, it is not a form of government that has been utilized in the United States. Additional information about these alternative means of electing legislators and executive officers on this web site (and on-line).
Critically-Needed Legislation
Politicians often talk about “listening to voters” but do not seem to respond to what they hear by the passing legislation needed to effectively address concerns that are regularly raised. Voters have made it clear that making health care truly affordable and creating well-paid jobs are their primary concerns. As the serious nature of the threat posed by global warming is becoming more and more evident, the need for legislation to address the climate crisis is becoming a concern of more and more voters.
These problems are not being addressed by Congress or state legislatures. These are all problems that can be addressed effectively by legislation that lends itself to the initiative process.
Call to action
In any state where the required number of people are willing to work gathering signatures on petitions to put reform proposals on the ballot, we can establish a government of, by, and for the people. With enough citizens willing to sign petitions and enough volunteers to gather those signatures we can enact needed reforms. And we can’t be stopped by the defenders of the corrupt, dysfunctional political system that is currently in place.
We encourage you to provide your contact information so we can add you to our data base of “Citizen Legislators” who are willing to sign one or more of the petitions we are promoting. You can elect yourself by simply clicking “Join Our Campaign” in the right sidebar. If you are willing to volunteer to help gather signatures, click “Volunteer” at the bottom of the form.
If you would like to make a financial contribution to support our efforts, please click on “Contribute Today.”
Privacy notice: Your contact information will not be shared with any other organizations. You will not be bombarded with emails or endless requests for financial contributions.
We will communicate with you regarding important votes and other actions in Congress; political events being held in your area; and where our petitions can be signed (if you live in a state with an active initiative campaign).