1. Government Reforms

2. Elections Wanted to take power away from political machines
Most were native born, middle or upper class, and college educated
Direct primary- voters choose the candidates who run in the general election
17th amendment- gave voters the power to elect their senators directly
Secret ballots- voting results are kept confidential
Initiative- gave power to initiate/introduce legislation
Referendum- citizens can force legislation to place a recently passed law on the ballot, allowing voters to approve or veto
Recall- enables voters to remove an elected official by calling for a special election

3. City Government Samuel M. Jones Mayor of Toledo
Overhauled police force, improved municipal services, set minimum wage for city workers, open kindergartens
Tom Johnson
Mayor of Cleveland
New rules for police department, released debtors
from prison
“Best mayor of the best governed city in US”-
Lincoln Steffens
Still much corruption and voter unhappiness
Machine politics more predictable
People sometimes rejected laws that should
have been passed
Fear lower class would gain too much power

4. State Government Robert M. LaFollette Wisconsin Idea Direct primary
Increased taxes on railroads and public utilities
Create commissions to regulate companies in the public interest
Passed laws that curbed excessive lobbying
Backed labor reforms
Worked to conserve Wisconsin’s natural resources