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. We also provide financial support for initiative campaigns focused on electoral reform.
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).
Direct Democracy
The initiative is a powerful form of direct democracy allowing 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.
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. We can enact needed reforms. And we can’t be stopped by the defenders of the corrupt, dysfunctional system that is currently in place.
If you would like to make a financial contribution to support our efforts, please click on “Contribute Today.”
We also encourage you to provide your contact information so we can add you to our Email list.
(Privacy notice: Your contact information will not be shared with, or sold to, any other organizations or individuals. You will not be bombarded with 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).