How can ordinary citizens force a public referendum?

Question

To cut governmental costs, how could a public initiated referendum be initiated to allow for voting on reducing t\he number of representatives by tripling the number of citizens needed in a given area for congressional representation? For our Federal government? For our State government?

Answer 1

First of all, I believe that we should have triple the number of representatives in the US House of Representatives - so that we could have truer, more diverse representation.  It might also allow our nation to move to a more multi-party system - therefore cutting back on the consolidation of power within the Democratic/Republican party (not the original one of the early 1800s, but the one masquerading as two distinct parties today).

The way to cut the costs is to lower the Congressional pay-scale.  Pay living expenses so that those people who are not wealthy could (and hopefully would!) participate, and finally - set term limits for the Federal Legislative branch just like we did for the Executive branch in the 1950s.

To initiate the changes in either direction would take a massive amount of grass-roots work from a number of different organizations, which would desire the changes for vastly diverse reasons.  They would have to put aside a lot of personal (i.e. organizational) pride to work together to accomplish such a task.

I would welcome the opportunity to work for such an endeavor.  I just don't know if enough Americans care enough to put forth the effort, and/or to face the questions and ridicule from others to reach for the goal.

Answer 2

Start a petition. Go out and get citizens to sign it. If enough signatures are obtained you will get the attention of the nation. You would have to have a constitutional amendment to change this in federal or state govt. They are very hard to get a sufficient number of citizens to back them.

Answer 3

Wow this would be great.

Answer 4

Check with your States, Province or Territorial equivalent of the Secretary of State. That office can tell you what the exact steps are you need to take. And be peaceful about it.