Stop “Direct Democracy” in West Virginia: Oppose HJR 10

Why it Matters

Members of the West Virginia Legislature are seeking to propose a state constitutional amendment that would impose direct democracy in the state, a dangerous step away from a republican form of government and toward a “tyranny of the majority.”

House Joint Resolution 10 (HJR 10) is sponsored by four state delegates. If enacted, it would propose an amendment to the state constitution that, if approved by voters in the 2028 general election, would impose a system of citizen-initiated ballot measures and recall elections.

HJR 10 is dangerous because it will take a major step toward “direct democracy” in West Virginia, and away from the Founding Fathers’ vision of a republican form of government.

Contrary to what many leftists and self-described “conservatives” claim, the United States is not a democracy, nor did the Founding Fathers want it to be so. Rather, they designed the United States to be a constitutional republic — one that protects limited government and individual rights from the “tyranny of the majority.”

Furthermore, Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution requires every state to have “a Republican Form of Government.” As with the federal government, states are intended to be constitutional republics.

Unfortunately, both the federal and state governments are moving away from this essential principle — and one of the ways this is happening is via referendums and popular initiatives on the state level. Usually, only a simple majority of voters is needed to enact wide-reaching constitutional amendments, which are often pushed by leftist groups that use this system to their advantage.

Approving HJR 10 — both by the Legislature and at the ballot box — would severely undermine our Republic’s founding principles and move West Virginia dangerously closer to being led by the “rule of man” rather than the “rule of law.”

Contact and urge your state delegate and senator to oppose HJR 10.