LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO THE THREAT OF POPULAR INITIATIVES

Theory: A spatial model of the policy process is used to identify cond itions under which the threat of initiatives constrains legislative be havior, Hypotheses: Legislators in states that allow initiatives are e xpected to pass laws that more closely reflect their state's median vo ter's preference than legislators in states that do not allow initiati ves. Methods: Logistic regression analysis of United States data relat ing state policies, state median voter preferences, provisions for the initiative, and several control variables in the policy area of paren tal consent requirements for teenage abortions. Results: Parental cons ent laws passed by legislatures in initiative states more closely refl ect their state's median voter's preference than parental consent laws passed in states that prohibit initiatives,even after controlling for other population and institutional differences across states.