1. Referendum: voters accept or reject initiatives by a vote Warm Up:
Words of the Day
Initiative: a bill started directly by the people rather than lawmakers
Referendum: voters accept or reject initiatives by a vote
Warm Up:
The roads in your state are falling apart. The cracks and potholes in the highways are so bad, they slow down traffic and cause damage to cars. Using the Words of the Day, how could you bring about change to this issue?
Direct participation in the democratic process

2. MAIN IDEA
Government reforms were made during the Progressive Era in order to give Americans more of a voice in electing their legislators and creating laws.

3. BACKGROUND : WHAT WAS HAPPENING?
STOP, THINK, RECALL
Who were the political bosses?
What are benefits of Political Machines?
What are negatives of Political Machines?

4. MUNICIPAL REFORM (STATE LEVEL REFORM)
Problem
Solution
City Governments were controlled by Political Bosses and Political Machines
Progressives wanted to replace the bosses and machines with public minded mayors
Urban Overcrowding, fire hazards, lack of public services
Municipal governments often took direct ownership of utilities such as water, electricity, and gas.
Goal: promote the principal of direct democracy

5. STOP AND THINK…. Can you think of Municipal Reforms needed today?
Sunken Gardens
River Walk

6. GOVERNMENT REFORMS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL
Term
Definition
Visual Match
Referendum
Voters accept or reject initiatives by referendum; or a vote on the initiative C
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Authorized a civil service commission to make appointments to federal jobs through a merit system based on the candidates performance on an examination F

7. GOVERNMENT REFORMS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL
Made politicians DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE to the voters
Term
Definition
Visual Match
Recall
Enables voters to remove public officials from elected positions by forcing them to face another election before the end of the term if the voter ask for it D
Initiative
A bill originated by the people rather than lawmakers—on the ballot A

8. GOVERNMENT REFORMS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL
Term
Definition
Visual Match
Secret Ballot  
Voters were less subject to pressure and intimidation when they could vote in secret H
16th amendment  
Graduated Income Tax- this amendment allows Congress to tax personal income G

9. GOVERNMENT REFORMS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL
Direct election of senators meant to INCREASE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION in government
Term
Definition
Visual Match
17th Amendment
Direct election of Senators: Senators were now elected directly by the people instead of being chosen by state legislation. B
18th Amendment
Banned the sale of alcoholic drinks E

10. 18TH AMENDMENT- BANS ALCOHOL
Why would a country ban alcohol?
“Root of Evil”- Cause of problems in society
Largest base of support came form middle/upper class Women
Domestic Abuse
Poverty
Depression

11. WHAT DID REFERENDUM, INITIATIVE AND RECALL RESULT IN?
Expansion of citizen’s participation in the democratic process

12. ACTING AS AN AMATEUR HISTORIAN REFORM
In 1889, six years after the Pendleton Act was passed, Theodore Roosevelt gave this speech on the The Duties of American Citizenship:
“Government jobs belong to the American people, not politicians, and should be filled only with regard to public service. Against nothing is fearless and specific criticism more urgently needed than against the “spoils system” which is the [disgrace’ of American politics. What more irrelevant question could there be than that of the politician who ask a job seeker for his political favor, “Whom did you vote for in the last election?” Certainly reform is needed when you think of the New York City treasurer who acknowledges his annual fees to be $85,000 and who pays a deputy $1,500 to do his work. Note the corruption in the New York legislation, where one man says that you should never allow the Constitution to come between friends!”
Why did Roosevelt feel it was inappropriate to ask a job seeker who he or she had voted for?
Why did Roosevelt think civil service reform would help eliminate corruption?

13. Pendleton Civil Service Act
REFORM MATCHING
Take 5 minutes to read these over and decide which Government Reform would best fit the situation.
Use These Words:
Recall
Referendum
Initiative
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Secret Ballot
Situation
Government Reform
Your governor has recently passed laws that you feel are extremely harmful to the welfare of your community. The majority of citizens of your state fear that he will continue to hurt the people if he finishes out his term.
Recently, it seems that the manager of the local county office has been hiring friends and family members to various jobs around the county. While hundred of people apply, the jobs only seem to go to those “in the know”.
What is supposed to prevent this?
You would like to see the state legislature do something about the litter problems in state parks, but no one in office will start a bill to address the problem.
What can you do?
The state legislature passes a law that many citizens disagree with. They would like an opportunity to express their disapproval of the bill and fight to remove it.
What do they need?

14. SITUATION #1
Your governor has recently passed laws that you feel are extremely harmful to the welfare of your community. The majority of citizens of your state fear that he will continue to hurt the people if he finishes out his term.
What can you do?
Recall

15. What is supposed to prevent this?
SITUATION #2
Recently, it seems that the manager of the local county office has been hiring friends and family members to various jobs around the county. While hundred of people apply, the jobs only seem to go to those “in the know”.
What is supposed to prevent this?
Civil Service Reform
Secret Ballot

16. Initiative SITUATION #3
You would like to see the state legislature do something about the litter problems in state parks, but no one in office will start a bill to address the problem.
What can you do?
Initiative

17. Referendum SITUATION #4
The state legislature passes a law that many citizens disagree with. They would like an opportunity to express their disapproval of the bill and fight to remove it.
What do they need?
Referendum

18. QUICK WRITE
How do initiative, recall, and referendum make government officials more accountable to the citizens?

19. QUICK WRITE
Earlier voters had used an open ballot in which everyone could see their vote. Why was the use of secret ballot more democratic?

20. QUICK WRITE
The 17th amendment allowed voters to elect their own Senators directly. Would you have supported this change?