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The Supreme Court says that the people can step in and demand that their democratic institutions be more, well, democratic. The ruling Monday in an Arizona case said that the whole of the people of a state, not just the elected legislature, holds lawmaking power, and can use it to set up a less-partisan means of drawing legislative and congressional districts.

The case could, should, lead to similar reforms in Utah.

Utah should profit by Arizona's example — Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

" ... 'The Legislature,' said the Legislature, means the Legislature. The counter argument, drawn from the Arizona Constitution, is that the Legislature is only part of the legislature. The people are the other part, and they have the power, through the referendum process, of making laws themselves.

"The court agreed with the right of referendum.

"The Utah Constitution has similar language about how the people retain legislative authority. They should exercise that power in this matter. ..."

Arizona case a big victory for voters — Bloomberg View Editorial

"The sentence cannot be found in the Constitution, but it best captures one of the fundamental democratic principles the Constitution exists to protect: 'Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around.' ..."

Founders' idea of democracy gets an update — Noah Feldman | Bloomberg View

"Score one for the living Constitution. No, not gay marriage, which the framers couldn't have imagined as a fundamental constitutional right, yet became one last week. Monday's winner is the referendum, which the framers would've hated but has been part of our government for more than a century. ..

" ... Ginsburg's opinion is now the law, and I suspect that, in a few decades, this case will be considered one of the most important of the term. Thus far, only California has copied Arizona and created an independent redistricting commission. But with the court's blessing, more states are likely to follow suit. These commissions have been hugely successful thus far, a real boost for representative democracy and a cure for the notoriously stubborn problem of gerrymandering. ..."

No to 'disempowering' the people; yes to decision — Arizona Republic Editorial

Redistricting Commission has been largely a flop — Robert Robb | The Arizona Republic

Supreme Court decision a victory for 'we the people' — Los Angeles Times Editorial

" ... The point of redistricting reform is to ensure that elections more fully express the will of voters, not the parties. It is a work in progress that will continue to be refined as long as party leaders seek power and voters push back."