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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.

Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

FACT BRIEF

Does a 2020 California ballot measure impose unusually stringent requirements for future changes by legislators?

Thursday, November 5, 2020

By Austin Tannenbaum

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YES

Proposition 22, a 2020 California ballot measure allowing app-based transportation and delivery services to treat their workers as independent contractors, allows for legislative amendments "consistent with" its purpose—but imposes an unusually high supermajority requirement, seven-eighths of the legislature, and the governor's signature.

California is one of only two states requiring voter approval to change or overturn an existing measure—"unless a provision in the initiative explicitly allows for legislative alteration." In 11 of the 21 states that permit citizen-initiated ballot initiatives, there are no restrictions on when and how state legislatures can repeal or amend the statutes. Some states limit how soon state legislatures can repeal or amend (i.e., after two years); other states require a supermajority legislative vote of either two-thirds or three-fourths.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

State of California: 2020 Voter Information Guide—Prop 22 summary

Ballotpedia: California Proposition 22 (2020)(full text)

Ballotpedia: Initiated state statute

Ballotpedia: Legislative alteration

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Gigafact

Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.