Which statement best describes the difference between an initiative and a referendum?

• A. An initiative is a ballot measure placed on the ballot via citizen petition or rule by the legislature; a referendum is proposed by the legislature to be approved by voters
• B. An initiative is always created by the governor
• C. A referendum cannot be challenged in court
• D. An initiative only appears on the ballot in federal elections

Answer: (A)

The difference centers on who starts the ballot measure and what is being decided. An initiative is a ballot measure brought to voters by citizens who gather signatures to place a proposed law or constitutional amendment on the ballot; in some systems, the legislature can also trigger an initiative by referring a proposal to voters. A referendum, on the other hand, is a measure that the legislature puts to voters for approval or rejection, usually to confirm or overturn a law it has enacted. So the initiative is about citizens (or sometimes the legislature referencing them) creating a new ballot item, while a referendum is the legislature asking voters to approve or reject something it has proposed or enacted.