As stories of Arnold Schwarzenegger's conduct in the 1970s and related commentaries on the recall of California Gov. Gray Davis continue to inundate each day's news, some Virginians might be left wondering if such circumstance could ever arise in their state.
In a word, no. Like 31 other states, Virginia's constitution has no provisions for a voter-initiated recall of state officials. Rather, only Virginia lawmakers are endowed with the power to impeach the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, judges and other officials.
Constitutions in 18 states, however, contain recall procedures enabling citizens to remove and replace public officials. While proponents of recall systems tout increased accountability for public officials, opponents of such systems question the ramifications of placing too much power in citizen hands.
"It is completely unnecessary," Politics Prof. Larry Sabato said. "We have a thousand methods of accountability. If anything, public officials are too responsive to public opinion."
Even if a state does not have a recall system, Sabato emphasized that most states have statutes requiring government officials to step down if convicted of a crime, in addition to separate impeachment procedures. Recall systems, he says, run contrary to established principles of American government.
"The founders did not intend that we would have direct democracy," he said. "They established a republic."
In California, voters can file a petition with the secretary of state giving reason for the recall. If approved, state law then requires a number of signatures equal to 12 percent of the last vote for the contested office. If the petition is rendered valid, an election is held within 60-80 days.
Earlier this year, the movement to oust Davis was organized by a taxpayers' group known the People's Advocate, who criticized the state budget crisis and decided to start a petition.
"This is not democracy," Sabato said. "This is 'mobocracy.'"
Other states with recall systems follow a close variation of California's procedure.
Virginia Del. Dave Albo, R-Fairfax, described problems with statewide initiatives in general.
"Everybody's going to vote for the cake, but no one's going to vote to pay for it," Albo said.
Because Californians have the power to vote on program initiatives that request a specific amount of state funding, lawmakers are restricted in their budget allocation process, Albo said.
"The problem in California is they have gone overboard with people putting things on the ballot," he said, noting that voters have now become dissatisfied that Davis cannot manage the confused budget.
In Virginia, though voters do not have the power to place similar initiatives on the ballot, Sabato maintains that power still rests in the hands of the people.
"We have elections every year," said Sabato, adding that no major official has been impeached in Virginia since the Civil War. "That's enough."
If voted out of office on Oct. 7, Davis will be the second governor in U.S. history to be recalled. The first was Lynn Frazier of North Dakota in 1921.
Read More
U.Va. Faculty Senate overwhelmingly adopts a no confidence vote in Board of Visitors
By Xander Tilock | 22 hours ago"The Faculty Senate expresses no confidence in the Board of Visitors for not protecting the University and its president from outside interference," the resolution read.
Faculty Senate Executives hear from Rector Sheridan and Vice Rector Wilkinson
By Xander Tilock and Grace Traxler | YesterdayRectors were in attendance for part of Wednesday’s emergency meeting and were asked about the interim president selection process.
Student leaders weigh the future of self-governance after Ryan's departure
By Brendon Bordwine | 3 days agoThe University has a historical tradition of student self-governance, which allows students to take part in decision-making processes.
