Recall is one mechanism for dealing with errant officeholders--removing them from office by a vote of the people. America's Progressive Movement sought to secure greater trust in the democratic process by means of citizen involvement--employing such measures as popular primaries, directly electing senators, and by having at one's disposal the initiative, the referendum, and the recall. In truth, the recall did not originate in America. Rather, it was an adaptation of the Swiss form of governance. Switzerland's ancient device provided for popular vote on the question of whether the legislature should be recalled. When the process was invoked by a specific number of voters, all functions of the legislature were at once to cease and a new legislature elected (Bacon et al. 1912, 50-51).
