California recently held a recall election for its governor, Gavin Newsom. This is a special type of election under which citizens can vote to remove an elected public official before his/her term has ended. While Governor Newsom was not removed from office, the use of the recall election has led to debates over its efficacy.

Those who argue in favor of state governments having recall elections contend that they are an essential part of a healthy democracy. They claim that they are a way for voters to remove an official who has proven themselves to be inadequate. This side tends to argue that a representative’s first priority is following the will of his or her constituents.

Those who oppose state governments having recall elections contend that they are a violation of a core feature of representative government. They tend to argue that stability is an important characteristic in representative government, and that giving voters the ability to recall duly elected officials can cause a minority party to disrupt the system by frequently calling for recalls. They also may argue that a representative’s first priority should be to carry out what is best for the common good, and not be so subject to popular whims that may frequently change.

So, what do you think? Should State Governments Have Recall Elections? Students can answer Yes, they should; No, they should not; or a nuanced answer in-between!

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Note: Ideal Think the Vote responses include the following:

• Address the question asked in a thoughtful and meaningful manner
• Use cited facts and constitutional arguments when appropriate to support their answers
• Are expressed in cohesive sentences and are free of distracting spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors
• They address counter-arguments and opposing concerns in a respectful manner
• They organize their answer in a manner that flows logically and reads clearly

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JOIN THE DEBATE BELOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $1,000 CASH SCHOLARSHIP!

For this question, BRI will be giving away two $25 gift cards, one to each person providing the best defense of each side of the debate. Both students will also win BRI swag. Each student winner will also be entered for a chance to win a grand prize of a $1,000 cash scholarship. Additionally, the referring teachers for both students will each win a $25 gift card and BRI swag.

This question will run from 9/20/21 to 9/27/21, so be sure to submit your answers in time to be considered for our prizes!

(For rules/regulations click HERE)