How can citizens in Guam propose new legislation?

Citizens in Guam can propose new legislation through the process of gathering signatures for an initiative, which is the most direct and formal method for citizens to influence the legislative process. This approach allows residents to demonstrate public support for a specific legislative proposal by collecting a certain number of signatures from registered voters. Once the necessary signatures are gathered, the proposal can be submitted to the appropriate legislative body for consideration. This mechanism is crucial as it empowers citizens to take an active role in governance and enact change even when their elected officials may not take action on their own.

Petitioning elected officials, while a valid avenue for expressing ideas and concerns, does not possess the same formal mechanism for enshrining proposals into law. Writing to the judiciary does not pertain to the legislative process, as the judiciary interprets laws rather than creates them. Public forums can serve as platforms to discuss and disseminate ideas, but they do not provide a direct channel for proposing legislation in a structured and formal manner. Therefore, the initiative process through signature gathering stands out as the primary method for citizens in Guam to actively propose new legislation.