Experts assess the connection between characteristics of petitioners, how they are able to influence their communities beyond the ballot box and how large an influence they are on specific areas of policy.

Chapter 1: The State of Petitioners, by Shauna Reilly and Ryan M. Yonk Chapter 2: Success From Amateur to Zealot: A Typology of Initiative Activists, by Mathew Manweller Chapter 3: Governors at the Bully Ballot Box, by Thomas Lubbock Chapter 4: Petitioners and Policy Makers: State Legislator Perceptions of Petitioners and Direct Democracy, by Richard N. Engstrom and Jeff R. DeWitt Chapter 5: Petitioners as a Reflection of their Community, by Shauna Reilly and Whitney McIntyre Miller Chapter 6: Petitioners and Quality of Life in their Community, by Shauna Reilly and Ryan Yonk Chapter 7: Education and Amateurs: Changes to Education Finance by Petitioners, by Damon Cann and Teena Wilhelm Chapter 8: Petitioners in Health Care Policy: Radicals or Partisans?, by Roberta Q. Hertzberg Chapter 9: The Realm of the Zealot: Tax Policy, by Ryan Yonk, Terrie Bechdel and Kayla Dawn Harris Chapter 10: Green Energy Democracy: A Venue for Zealots and Professionals, by Randy Simmons, Kristen Dawson and Kayla Dawn Harris, Chapter 11: Conclusion and Policy Potential, by Shauna Reilly and Ryan Yonk