What exactly did Clinton do “a couple times” in regards to referendums?!
He once used one to poll the people on how he was doing or something. I forget the other one but it gave americans the right to say fuck congress and representation my vote finally counts. I forget what it was for tho.
Because the US does not have referendum. Some states do, but there is no national referendum in the US. If there were the country would likely be quite different. There are issues that “both sides” agree with that neither side push for because it’s not profitable. If we had a referendum we might be able get certain things passed.
Of course, you’d have to depend on those in power to do the referendum to give us a chance to vote on it anyway…
It’s almost as if representative democracy isn’t actually all that democratic most of the time
Because the US does not have referendum.
I think it would probably be possible for Congress to pass a law with a clause “this law is subject to a referendum and shall go into effect only if approved by a majority of voters” or similar. That’s pretty much something any legislature can do if it wants to, even if the constitution doesn’t specifically authorize it. But I don’t think this has ever happened in the US.
In my country the constitution specifically authorizes this and it has happened once, which resulted in a law passed by the legislature not taking effect: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_Austrian_nuclear_power_referendum
Hand of there’s no way to do a national referendum how do they amend the Constitution?
The process for amending the US constitution doesn’t involve referendums.
Cynically? Because what they want to do rarely aligns with what people actually want. It’s far easier to just push through unpopular legislation and spin it retroactively than it is to run a full propaganda campaign ahead of a referendum and still risk losing.
Politicians only run referendums if they’re sure the outcome will be what they want, or if their hand is forced by the opposition.
Can you be more specific? The US doesn’t have any mechanism for a national referendum on a specific issue. Usually when people use that term, they’re talking about mid-term elections (and reelection bids) being a “referendum” on a President’s total popularity.
I’m also curious as to what he’s referring to
Your link doesn’t mention Clinton at all, but starts with this:
Federal law does not allow national referendums in the United States where the general population gets to vote on an issue.
It happens at the State level regularly (in states where it’s used), but it’s not something a President can initiate.
Brexit. That’s why. Don’t trust a nation changing referendum to a country of mouth breathing tools that are more concerned about what Kim K. is wearing than what a policy means.
why would they? america is basically under foreign occupation, that is how much your government cares about the people.
No such thing as an american presidential referendum. What?
You’d need to be a very popular president to do that and not embarrass yourself.
Judging by what “conservative” (far right) politicians in my country say, they specifically don’t want to give people time off. Their idea of “appriate worker’s/citizen’s rights” is more akin to “indentured servitude”.
Because it’s pointless.
It’s a “feel good” thing in a Representative system.
Also, that’s time off without pay. I can arrange that all on my own.
