Changes

Eighteen states, mostly in the western [[United States]], provide, in their laws, for the mid-term recall of state-level elected officials.<ref name=ncsl>"[http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16581 Entry for Recall Election]," National Conference of State Legislatures, accessed 14 January 2010.</ref> Federal law does not provide for the popular recall of a [[President of the United States]], but the various State-level recall laws often provide for the recall, not only of State officials but also of their [[United States Senate|Senators]] and [[United States House of Representatives|Representatives]] in [[United States Congress|Congress]]. (To date no Senator or Representative has been recalled mid-term from his office, but a case is now pending in [[New Jersey]] to test the proposition that a State may recall its Senator.<ref name=examiner>Hurlbut T, "[http://www.examiner.com/x-28973-Essex-County-Conservative-Examiner~y2010m1d14-NJ-elections-division-says-Menendez-recall-illegal NJ elections division says Menendez recall illegal]," ''Essex County Conservative Examiner'', <http://www.examiner.com/Newark>, 14 January 2010</ref>)

Eighteen states, mostly in the western [[United States]], provide, in their laws, for the mid-term recall of state-level elected officials.<ref name=ncsl>"[http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16581 Entry for Recall Election]," National Conference of State Legislatures, accessed 14 January 2010.</ref> Federal law does not provide for the popular recall of a [[President of the United States]], but the various State-level recall laws often provide for the recall, not only of State officials but also of their [[United States Senate|Senators]] and [[United States House of Representatives|Representatives]] in [[United States Congress|Congress]]. (To date no Senator or Representative has been recalled mid-term from his office, but a case is now pending in [[New Jersey]] to test the proposition that a State may recall its Senator.<ref name=examiner>Hurlbut T, "[http://www.examiner.com/x-28973-Essex-County-Conservative-Examiner~y2010m1d14-NJ-elections-division-says-Menendez-recall-illegal NJ elections division says Menendez recall illegal]," ''Essex County Conservative Examiner'', <http://www.examiner.com/Newark>, 14 January 2010</ref>)

[[File:Recall.jpg|thumb|175px|Republican [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] replaced California's governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, at a recall election in 2003.]]  

[[File:Recall.jpg|thumb|175px|Republican [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] replaced California's governor Gray Davis, a Democrat, at a recall election in 2003.]]

 

==History==

==History==

In the early 20th century, the [[Progressive Movement]], especially in western states,  sought more direct democracy by promoting the recall, along with the initiative (the people petition to put a new law on the ballot), referendum (people vote on major laws proposed by the lefislature), direct election of senators (election was by the state legislature), and woman suffrage. When the territory of Arizona in 1911 submitted its new constitution to Washington in order to become a state, conservative President [[William Howard Taft]] insisted on removing the recall provision because it would allow recall of state judges. The recall was removed, Taft signed the statehood bill on February 14, 1912, and state residents promptly put the provision back in.<ref> Cindy Hayostek, "Douglas Delegates to the 1910 Constitutional Convention and Arizona's Progressive Heritage," ''Journal of Arizona History'' 2006 47(4): 347-366</ref>  

In the early 20th century, the [[Progressive Movement]], especially in western states,  sought more direct democracy by promoting the recall, along with the initiative (the people petition to put a new law on the ballot), referendum (people vote on major laws proposed by the lefislature), direct election of senators (election was by the state legislature), and woman suffrage. When the territory of Arizona in 1911 submitted its new constitution to Washington in order to become a state, conservative President [[William Howard Taft]] insisted on removing the recall provision because it would allow recall of state judges. The recall was removed, Taft signed the statehood bill on February 14, 1912, and state residents promptly put the provision back in.<ref> Cindy Hayostek, "Douglas Delegates to the 1910 Constitutional Convention and Arizona's Progressive Heritage," ''Journal of Arizona History'' 2006 47(4): 347-366</ref>