The Safety Valve of American Governance: What Decades of Research Reveal About Direct Democracy

When voters in states like Ohio or Michigan head to the polls to decide a constitutional amendment, or when residents in South Dakota weigh in on a state law through a referendum, they are taking part in a long-standing feature of the American system: a way to make government align with the will of the people when the usual channels aren't working. Research by John Matsusaka, a leading scholar at the University of Southern California and President of the Initiative and Referendum Institute, describes direct democracy as exactly that kind of built-in safeguard, one designed to give people a say when their representatives aren't responsive.

According to Matsusaka, "Direct democracy functions as a 'safety valve' in the American system, allowing citizens to intervene when they perceive that the government has become unresponsive or captured by powerful interest groups."

The Safety Valve: Why Does Direct Democracy Exist?

The main reason states adopted the ballot initiative is the fear that representative government can be "captured” by special interests South Dakota was the first to use the initiative process in 1898, and today, 26 states and the District of Columbia allow some form of statewide initiative or referendum.

"There was a widespread belief in the country at the time shared by both parties, that representative government had become non-representative. The people had lost control. So the idea was "let's give the people the right to propose changes so that they can particularly get into the electoral structure and try to counteract powerful interest groups,” said Matsusaka.

Throughout history, voters have worried that special interests or political machines can have too much sway over a handful of legislators. When that happens, the legislature might pass laws that help those interests, or worse, ignore laws that most people actually want. That’s where the "safety valve" comes in. Citizen initiatives and referendums are not meant to replace the legislature. They’re a way for the people to step in when they feel the government isn't listening or is stuck. If the legislature refuses to act on an issue that has widespread support, or passes something that’s out of line with public opinion, the initiative process lets voters step in and decide the policy themselves.

Does It Work? What Does the Research Show?

Do initiatives actually make government more representative? Professor John Matsusaka's research—and a broader body of political science literature—suggests the answer is yes. 

Comparing states with and without citizen initiatives, researchers have found that states with initiative processes are more likely to adopt policies that align with majority public opinion. (John G. Matsusaka, "Public Policy and the Initiative and Referendum: A Survey with Some New Evidence," Public Choice, 2018).

Why might this be? According to Dr. Matsusaka, “"It's much easier for an organized group to buy 100 legislators—or 50 or whatever it takes to get a majority—than it is to buy millions of voters."

The "Millions vs. Dozens" Comparison

It’s true that any part of our government can be influenced by special interests—no system is perfect. But researchers ask a key question: Which system is easier to influence? Professor Matsusaka explains.

• In a legislature: A small group of committee chairs or party leaders can often stop a bill from even getting a vote, regardless of what the public wants.
• In a ballot measure: An interest group has to convince a majority of the entire state's voting population, which is much more transparent and harder to control.

While special interest groups do spend a lot of money on ballot campaigns, the sheer size of the voting public makes it much harder to "capture" the outcome than in the closed-door environment of a state capitol.

Evaluating "Perfection" vs. "Better"

Critics often argue that the system is flawed because voters might get confused or not have all the facts. Professor Matsusaka argues that we shouldn't ask if direct democracy is perfect; we should ask if it’s better than the alternative. Since no government is perfect, we have to compare the options. If the alternative to a sometimes-messy ballot measure process is a potentially unresponsive legislature, then direct democracy provides a clear opportunity in getting the policies that people actually want.

“Winston Churchill had the best answer, I think, when he said his famous quote... 'Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.' So it never works perfectly, but that's not the right standard to hold any political process up to." said Matsusaka.

The value of the ballot initiative isn't that it creates a perfect government, but that it ensures the people remain the ultimate authority. By looking at direct democracy as a useful tool rather than a perfect one, voters can better appreciate its role in our democracy. 

Summary: Key Takeaways from the Research

Question

Research Insight

What is direct democracy?

Any process where citizens vote on laws directly, including citizen-led initiatives and referendums.

Is direct democracy a new invention?

No. Americans have voted on laws directly since the founding era of the nation and citizen-led initiatives have existed since 1898.

Is direct democracy better than representative democracy?

Direct democracy is not a replacement for representative democracy, but a "safety valve" that often produces policy closer to voter preferences.

Are voters easily influenced??

While influence exists, it is empirically harder to "capture" millions of voters than dozens of legislators.

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Sources

• John G. Matsusaka. For the Many or the Few: The Initiative, Public Policy, and American Democracy. University of Chicago Press, 2004.
• John G. Matsusaka. Let the People Rule: How Direct Democracy Can Meet the Populist Challenge. Princeton University Press, 2020.
• Original interview with Professor John Matsusaka conducted by BallotMeasureGuide.org, July 2026.

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