# Direct Legislation League

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United States political activism group

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The **Oregon Direct Legislation League** was an organization of political activists founded by [William S. U'Ren](/source/William_S._U'Ren) in the U.S. state of [Oregon](/source/Oregon) in 1898. U'Ren had been politically activated by reading the influential 1893 book *Direct Legislation Through the Initiative and Referendum*,[1] and the group's founding followed in the wake of the 1896 founding of the National Direct Legislation League, which itself had its roots in the Direct Legislation League of [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey) and its short-lived predecessor, the People's Power League.[2]

The group led efforts in Oregon to establish an [initiative](/source/Popular_initiative) and [referendum](/source/Referendum) system, allowing direct legislation by the state's citizens. In 1902, the [Oregon Legislative Assembly](/source/Oregon_Legislative_Assembly) approved such a system, which was known at the time as the Oregon System.

The group's further efforts led to successful ballot initiatives implementing a [direct primary](/source/Direct_primary) system in 1904, and allowing citizens to [directly recall](/source/Recall_election) public officials in 1908.[3][4]

## Direct Legislation League of California

California built the most successful grass roots progressive movement in the country by mobilizing independent organizations and largely ignoring the conservative state parties. The system continues strong into the 21st century.[5] Following the Oregon model [John Randolph Haynes](/source/John_Randolph_Haynes) organized the **Direct Legislation League of California** in 1902 to launch the campaign for inclusion of the initiative and referendum in the state's constitution.[6] The League sent questionnaires to prospective candidates to the state legislature to obtain their stance on direct legislation and to make those positions public. It then flooded the state with letters seeking new members, money, and endorsements from organizations like the State Federation of Labor. As membership grew it worked with other private organizations to petition the state legislature, which was not responsive. In 1902 the League won a state constitutional amendment establishing direct democracy at the local level, and in 1904, it successfully engineered the recall of the first public official.[6]

## See also

- [List of Oregon ballot measures](/source/List_of_Oregon_ballot_measures)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-directbook_1-0)** Sullivan, James William (1893). [*Direct Legislation Through the Initiative and Referendum*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_BlRHHgAACAAJ). True Nationalist Publishing Company.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Schmidt_2-0)** Schmidt, David D. (1989). *Citizen Lawmakers: The Ballot Initiative Revolution*. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. pp. 7, 262.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-OBB_Initiative_3-0)** ["Initiative, Referendum and Recall Introduction"](https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/state/elections/history-introduction.aspx). *Oregon Blue Book*. Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Carey_4-0)** Carey, Charles Henry (1922). *History of Oregon*. Chicago, Illinois: Pioneer Publishing. pp. 837–838.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** John M. Allswang, *The initiative and referendum in California, 1898-1998* (Stanford University Press, 2000) pp. 1-31.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_6-1) *American reformers, 1870-1920 : progressives in word and deed*. L. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield. 2006. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [074252762X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/074252762X).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: others ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_others))

v t e Modern history of Oregon (1890–present) Topics Tax revolt Governors Bottle Bill Centennial Tokens "Roll On, Columbia, Roll On" Meier & Frank Willamette Industries Direct Legislation League Events USS Oregon Lewis & Clark Expo Oregon land fraud scandal Lookout Air Raids Columbus Day Storm Florence whale explosion 1977 NBA Finals 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens Rajneeshee bioterror attack Rajneeshee assassination plot New Carissa oil spill Willamette Valley Flood Places Bonneville Dam Celilo Falls Copperfield Fort Stevens Harbor Drive Kaiser Shipyards Shanghai tunnels Vanport Politicians Victor Atiyeh George Chamberlain David B. Frohnmayer Neil Goldschmidt Mark Hatfield Nan Wood Honeyman Tom McCall Douglas McKay Charles McNary Wayne Morse Maurine Neuberger Norma Paulus Barbara Roberts James H. Weaver Other Oregonians Terry Baker Pietro Belluschi Bill Bowerman Gert Boyle Abigail Scott Duniway James A. Fee Matt Groening Ken Kesey Phil Knight Ursula K. Le Guin Hall S. Lusk Brian McMenamin Bill Naito Steve Prefontaine Jack Ramsay Henry Weinhard Native peoples history History to 1806 Pioneer history Modern history

v t e Topics in Oregon legislation Crime and sentencing Capital punishment Measure 11 (1994) (mandatory minimum sentencing) Measure 40 (1996) etc. (victims' rights) Measure 110 (2020) (drug decriminalization) Elections and voting Direct Legislation League Vote-by-mail Term limits List of Oregon ballot measures Gay rights Same-sex marriage Oregon Citizens Alliance Measure 9 (1992) (homosexuality and education) Environment Bottle bill Nuclear power Wind power Solar power Coal power Land use O&C Lands Beach Bill (1967) Land Conservation and Development Act (1973) Measure 37 (2004) & 49 (2008) Health care Death with Dignity Act (1994 Measure 16) Oregon Health Plan Minimum wage Measures 36 (1996), 25 (2002) Taxation Tax revolt Measure 5 (landmark tax law) Measures 47 and 50 (adjusted Measure 5) Kicker tax rebate Measure 97 (2016) Miscellaneous Compulsory Education Act Adoption rights Alcoholic beverages in Oregon Bicycle Bill Cannabis in Oregon Drug policy of Oregon Influential people Loren Parks Bill Sizemore Background, further reading Oregon legislature Direct democracy in Oregon Oregon government Oregon history Oregon ballot measures

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