What is defined as the power of voters to propose and enact legislation themselves?

The concept of voters proposing and enacting legislation themselves is best defined as an initiative. An initiative is a process that allows citizens to propose changes to law or policy directly, bypassing the legislative body. This mechanism empowers voters to take an active role in governance and to address issues they feel are important or that may not be adequately addressed by their elected representatives.

Initiatives often require a certain number of signatures from registered voters to qualify for a ballot, after which the proposed legislation is presented for a popular vote. This system is designed to enhance democratic participation and ensure that the public has a direct say in lawmaking on specific issues.

While a referendum involves voters deciding on a specific piece of legislation already passed by the legislature, and an ordinance refers to a local law enacted by a municipal authority, these do not provide the same direct capacity for voters to propose and enact new laws on their own. A petition, meanwhile, is a method for gathering support or requesting action, but it does not inherently include the process of proposing and enacting legislation in the same manner as an initiative does.