This book describes the history of the initiative process and the major issues that have arisen during its increasing use in recent years. By elucidating the problems that have arisen and their possible solutions, the authors seek both to inform the debate about the wisdom of the initiative and to offer suggestions for improvement to jurisdictions that choose to use the process. With the aid of more than 40 charts and tables, the authors compare the major features of the initiative in the American jurisdictions that have adopted the procedure-24 states and the District of Columbia. They draw particularly on the experience in California, the most frequent U.S. user of the initiative and a major battleground in the development of ideas about the process. The book also discusses the use of the initiative in other countries, particularly Switzerland, where the process originated and the only other major country in the world that makes extensive use of the initiative today.