A law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters, and subject to review by the state courts, is called what?

• A. Referendum
• B. Initiative
• C. Ballot Measure
• D. Proposition

Answer: (B)

The initiative is the process where citizens draft and push a new law or constitutional amendment onto the ballot, and if a majority of voters approve, it becomes law or amends the constitution. Even after voters pass it, the measure can be reviewed by state courts to ensure it complies with constitutional limits. This directly fits the phrase “proposed and passed by the voters” and accounts for the possible judicial check on the measure.

This contrasts with a referendum, where the legislature places a proposed measure on the ballot for voters to approve or reject, rather than citizens proposing it themselves. Ballot measure and proposition are general terms for items appearing on the ballot, but the specific scenario described—citizen-proposed and voter-approved with potential court review—best describes the initiative.