Progressive Legislation
Using political mobilization and activism, Progressives were responsible for the passing of reform legislation at the local, state, and national levels. Cities began to hire qualified managers to run specific areas of government.
States passed reforms that gave voters the right to cast their vote secretly. Direct primary elections gave voters the right to elect primary candidates instead of party officials. Several new democratic rules gave voters new ways to participate in government. With the initiative, voters could petition state legislatures to consider a bill. With a referendum, voters could decide if a bill or legislative amendment should be passed. Also, voters could petition to have elected officials removed from office with the recall procedure.
Progressive Era presidents had been governors or members of Congress representing states that pushed progressive reform. The Congressional representation during the presidential administrations of Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson passed legislation to conserve the environment, tighten economic reform, and protect the welfare of American citizens.
Look at the picture. What do you consider progressive about the Taft administration?
 Depiction of Taft's administration |