Oregon, along with other relatively new Western states, used initiatives and referendums to give voters the option of legislating directly on some questions. The state used this power to impose a tax on the phone companies. The phone companies could no longer use their lobbying power in the legislature as effectively, so Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Company sued, attempting to have practices such as the initiative and referendum declared contrary to the Constitution’s promise of a republican form of government. Relying on Luther v. Borden[case]Luther v. Borden[Luther v. Borden] (1849), the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that it lacked jurisdiction in this case. The Court was clearly unwilling to act contrary to a direct expression of popular will and refused to hear the case, holding that it was a political and not a judicial question.States’ rights;Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Co. v. Oregon[Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Co. v. Oregon]

Judicial powers

Luther v. Borden

Political questions