Paine believed that America had adapted the virtues of ancient Greek democracy to the modern world. RG 46, Records of the United States Senate, National Archives and Records Administration, page 1. Direct initiative, or the right of citizens to propose and vote on legislation, has roots in Greek democracy. In ancient Athens, all decrees had to be ratified by the assembly of citizens before becoming law. In 1977 Senator James Abourezk proposed a constitutional amendment to allow direct initiative nationwide.
Many states have some form of direct initiative.
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