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[JasonPSorens]

I have updated the standard spreadsheets with a lot of variables from Paul's more expanded spreadsheet, although I have continued to use my correct method of linear interpolation.

http://www.freestateproject.org/files/statecomparisons.xls

http://www.freestateproject.org/files/statecomparisons2.xls (for Macs)

I've also added 2 variables not in Paul's big spreadsheet, one for Initiative, Referendum, and Recall, and one for election of the state supreme court.

The I,R,&R variable was constructed as follows:

+1 if any kind of initiative
+1 if any kind of referendum
+1 if initiative can be used to create laws (rather than just veto)
+1 if no excessive restrictions on initiative
+1 if initiative can be used to amend constitution
+1 if any kind of recall

The states rank as follows on this variable:

1. ND (6)
2. MT, ID (5)
4. AK, SD (4)
6. WY, ME (3)
8. DE, VT, NH (0)

The Judges variable was calculated as follows:

=1 if competitive elections to supreme court
=0.5 if yes/no referenda on supreme court appointments
=0 if no popular input into supreme court appointments

1. ND, ID (1)
3. WY, AK, SD, MT (0.5)
7. VT, DE, NH, ME (0)

[jgmaynard]

But again, we just have a different system...

NH has warrant articles, voted on every spring, which act much like referenda. You can get a warrant article on the ballot with only 30 signatures in Keene, and I believe it is lower elsewhere.

The whole city (and I mean like 10% of the population of the city) draw up the warrant articles in what is known as a ballot first session in Feburary, then the cities vote on them in March.
In spring of this year, we actually got an article on the ballot to amend the school budget down to $0.

And of course the towns have their own system, the old fashioned New England town meeting... Still in effect and dealing with major issues even today.

JM