Missouri
A government that fully lives up to these ideals would be a perfect democracy.
Referendums and the initiative are the essential components of direct democracy. Direct democracy is sometimes referred to as “pure democracy” because referendums vest all political power in the people. Every citizen has an equal vote, and a simple majority of the votes determines whether a proposed law or constitutional amendment is approved or rejected. The initiative allows the people to originate legislation. A government that is founded upon the will of the people and “instituted for the good of the whole” is a perfect democracy.
We see occasional glimpses of perfect democracy in Missouri thanks to an amendment to the Missouri Constitution that was enacted in 1908 giving the people the power “to propose and enact or reject laws and amendments to the constitution by the initiative, independent of the General Assembly” and “to approve or reject by referendum any act of the General Assembly.”
Thanks to the efforts of a previous generation of Missourians, we, the people of Missouri have the power to empower ourselves and to –
In recent years, the people of Missouri have used the initiative to enact legislation the General Assembly refused to pass (an increase in the state minimum wage, Medicaid expansion, the “Clean Missouri” ethics reform, and the legalization of marijuana) and used the veto referendum to repeal an anti-worker, anti-union, so-called “right-to-work” bill that was passed by the General Assembly.
Some of the politicians in the General Assembly are unhappy that the people of Missouri have the power to originate legislation and reject bills that they pass. They have proposed amendments to the Missouri Constitution that would make it more difficult for citizens to get proposals on the ballot through the initiative and require antidemocratic supermajorities to approve proposals put on the ballot by the people. If these antidemocratic amendments were to be enacted, it would be a significant setback for democracy in Missouri.
When it comes to defending democracy, an adage commonly associated with sports and warfare applies – “the best defense is a good offense”. We need to do more than defend democracy. We need to proactively promote democracy.
A petition for an elegantly simple, yet incredibly powerful, pro-democracy amendment has been filed with the Secretary of State in Missouri and approved for circulation:
The Pure Democracy Amendment
The Pure Democracy Amendment will make it easier for the people of Missouri (and legislators) to put proposals for legislation on the ballot and call for referendums when needed.
- It will implement a secure system of Online Accounts for Politically Active Citizens to facilitate signing petitions electronically.
- It will empower a “super-minority" of one-third or more of the members of either house in the General Assembly to refer any law passed by the General Assembly to the people of Missouri for their approval or rejection and use the initiative to put proposed laws and amendments to the Missouri Constitution on the ballot for voter approval, by signing petitions. (A legislative version of referendums and the initiative.)
Making it easier to call referendums and to propose and enact legislation by the initiative will vest all political power in the people of Missouri and divide it equally among all the people.
The work of making our government our own in Missouri involves collecting the required number of signatures
in at least six of Missouri's eight congressional districts to get the Pure Democracy Amendment on the ballot. If the required number of people sign the petitions by May 5, 2024, the Pure Democracy Amendment will be on the ballot in Missouri on November 5, 2024. If approved by voters at that election, the Pure Democracy Amendment will take effect 30 days later.
With the Missouri Constitution amended to include the Pure Democracy Amendment ALL POLITICAL POWER WILL BE VESTED IN AND DERIVED FROM THE PEOPLE.
There are lots of ways for you to help...
Circulate Petitions
Contribute financially
Circulate Petitions
Obtaining the required number of signatures is the key to success for our campaign.
Recruit volunteers
Contribute financially
Circulate Petitions
To collect the required number of signatures on each petition we need to grow our army of volunteers exponentially.
Contribute financially
Contribute financially
Contribute financially
Although there is a lot we can do with volunteers at very little cost, there are also a lot of ways to spend money effectively to reach many more voters than we can reach with volunteers only.
Help raise money
Help raise money
Contribute financially
When you ask someone to make a contribution to a worthy cause, you are giving them an opportunity to be involved in something special. With our campaign you are giving them an opportunity to make history.
Make Phone Calls
Help raise money
Make Phone Calls
We will be organizing phone banks throughout the campaign. If you need training, we will provide it. You can also contact people you know directly. Make a list of everyone you know who might be interested in being part of our campaign. Text, call, or send them an email and encourage them to visit our website and get involved.
Host an event
Help raise money
Make Phone Calls
House parties can be a very enjoyable way to get other people involved in our campaign. Or you can host a larger event, especially if you are a member of an organization that supports democracy.
Hand out flyers
Promote our website
Hand out flyers
Hand out flyers to people you know, at events, at your school or church, or simply to people that you meet. We will mail flyers to you, or you can print you own. PDFs of an assortment of flyers are posted on this website.
Put up posters
Promote our website
Hand out flyers
We need to put up posters in as many
good locations as possible, including schools, union halls, churches, and other high traffic public places.
Promote our website
Promote our website
Promote our website
Our web site has a wealth of information regarding why citizens in Missouri should sign our petitions and join our campaign. Please encourage everyone you know to visit our website.
Volunteer Resources
Ballot Language
Ballot language is important. It is what voters will see on the ballot when they vote. For many voters this may be all they see or know about what is being proposed. This is the ballot language for the Pure Democracy Amendment as approved by the Secretary of State:
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
- allow initiative petitions and referendums to be signed by one-third of the members in either chamber of the general assembly;
- allow for submission of electronic statements of support for initiative petitions;
- allow the legislature to call a special election for referendums and initiative petitions; and
- allow the governor to facilitate, establish and maintain online accounts for an electronic filing system of support statements for politically active citizens?
The ballot language, as drafted by the Secretary of State is not hostile to the intent of the petition, but this is ballot language that might be easier to understand:
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
- allow any citizen of Missouri who is eligible to vote to sign initiative petitions electronically (online) through Statements of Support;
- require the governor to facilitate electronic filing of Statements of Support by establishing and maintaining a system Online Accounts for Politically Active Citizens, ensure the security of that system, and protect the privacy of citizens utilizing that system;
- allow a “super-minority” of one-third or more of the members of either house in the General Assembly to propose a law or constitutional amendment or refer legislation enacted by the General Assembly to the people for their approval or rejection, by signing petitions; and
- allow those same legislators to submit a resolution to the Secretary of State setting a date for a special election for the referendum they have called or the legislation they have proposed?
The Pure Democracy Amendment (Missouri)
This is the full and exact text of the petition for the Pure Democracy Amendment
that has been filed with the Missouri Secretary of State and approved for circulation in Missouri.
Text being added is underlined. Text being deleted is in brackets.
SIGN UP TO JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN
We are recruiting an army of volunteers to help us MAKE MISSOURI A PERFECT DEMOCRACY. There are lots of ways to help. If you would like to join our campaign, please provide your email address.
This website was created by, is maintained by, and is paid for by Winston Apple, a private citizen. Copyright © 2023 Gary Winston Apple - All Rights Reserved.
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