THE CALIFORNIA RECALL ELECTION
Critical Analysis
By Lara Maupin, formerly a social studies teacher and student government adviser at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia

Overview:
California is the nation's most populous state and its economy is a large part of the nation's economy. In recent years, Californians have endured an energy crisis, budget shortfalls, and other economic troubles. Frustration over the state of the economy as well as a trend toward direct democracy, exemplified by numerous propositions and ballot initiatives, and 1.7 million dollars spent by Congressman Darrell Issa to get the recall measure on the ballot have resulted in the California recall election.

On October 7, California voters will have the opportunity to recall Democratic Governor Gray Davis and replace him with one of 135 candidates. The field of replacement candidates, most of whom have no relevant political experience and some of whom are famous or even notorious, has caused many analysts to call the recall a joke. Others, however, maintain that the increase in citizen interest and participation generated by the recall is positive.

Is the California recall election an example of democracy in action or have Californians taken citizen activism to a ridiculous extreme? In this lesson, your secondary students will attempt to answer this question. This lesson requires 1 - 2 class periods. It is especially relevant in a government or civics class, but may be used in any social studies class in which current events are examined. You may extend your study of the California recall elections with one of the suggested activities given below.

Objectives:

• Identify basic facts about the structure and history of recall elections in California and the nation
  
• Analyze the pros and cons of a gubernatorial recall election

Materials:
Students will need copies of the background handout and articles from the Online NewsHour coverage of the recall election cited below or computers with Internet access. No special textbooks or materials are required.

Correlations to National Standards

Procedure:

Background:

Give your students the following handout (teacher's key) and ask them to use articles from the
Online NewsHour coverage of the Gray Davis Recall Election (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/local/davis_recall/) in order to complete it. Students may work individually or in small groups.

Key Terms:
You may wish to review the following key terms with your students.

• direct democracy - form of government in which all citizens have the opportunity to participate directly in decision-making (e.g. ancient Athens, New England town meeting) - as opposed to representative democracy
  
  
• initiative - a way citizens may force a public vote on a constitutional amendment or other legal question with a petition
  
  
• proposition - a legal amendment set forth to be voted on by the electorate, rather than their representatives
  
  
• referendum - a direct vote by the electorate or poll on a legislative, constitutional, or political question
  
  
• impeach - to charge a public official with misconduct in office or criminal activity

Discussion / Debate:

Ask your students to consider the costs of the recall election, the amount of media coverage it will get, and what they have learned about the number, range, qualifications, and goals of the replacement candidates. Then, have your students debate the pros and cons of recall elections. Questions such as the following may be used to spark debate:

• Is the California recall election a farce or an example of a healthy democracy in action?
  
  
• Don't voters already have the opportunity to remove officials through elections and impeachment - why do they also need recalls?
  
  
• Should the target of a recall election have to be guilty of corruption or wrongdoing (as they must be in some states but not California) - and not simply a disappointment or unable to solve the state's problems?
  
  
• Should elected officials have to face the immediate chance of recall - or should they be given the time to do their jobs allowed for by their terms? Do recall elections discourage risk-taking and good leadership?
  
  
• With so many replacement candidates, shouldn't a runoff election be required in the event of a successful recall - so that the new governor has the support of more than 10 - 20% of the voters?
  
  
• Shouldn't the replacement candidates have to be more qualified?
  

Small Group Activity:

Ask your students to imagine that they are television or radio commentators or political analysts and to prepare 2 - 3 min. political commentaries reflecting their views on the California recall election. In their analyses, students may either discuss the election as a whole or urge one or more candidates to pursue a particular strategy. They may write their commentaries in class or for homework. Students then share their commentaries in small groups. Each group selects one to be shared with the entire class. You may wish to evaluate student work as they share orally or you may collect their written work. Finally, students are encouraged to submit their commentaries to school or local radio stations or newspapers.

Extension Ideas:

• Direct Democracy in Your State
  
  Eighteen states have recall provisions. Many have provisions to allow for ballot initiatives or referendums. Students find out about the opportunities for direct democracy in their states. Does your state allow for recall? If so, does the target of the recall need to be guilty of some wrongdoing? What are the laws? Have there been any recall attempts or recall elections in your state's history? Does your state allow for referendums or ballot initiatives? If so, what is the process for getting a question on the ballot? How often do questions appear on the ballot and for what purposes? You may conclude by having students analyze the opportunities for direct democracy in their state and compare to similar laws and their uses in California.
  
  
• Recall and the Law
  
  Students research more about the pros and cons of recall elections by looking at the legal challenges that have been and are being made to the California recall elections as well as the comments of elected officials and political analysts nationwide. Students list pros and cons while examining the legal and political arguments being made on each side. Finally, students make their own judgments about the wisdom of having a gubernatorial recall election. Is the California recall likely to have long-term positive or negative effects in California?
  

National Standards:

National Council for the Social Studies Thematic Strands:

Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
Power, Authority, and Governance
Civic Ideals and Practices

Author Lara Maupin taught social studies at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. She has a Master’s Degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and Philosophy from Mount Holyoke College.

To find out more about opportunities to contribute to this site, contact Leah Clapman at extra@newshour.org.