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Topic: Direct Democracy

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1.0 Please provide information about the person completing the questionnaire.
A.1.1 Which forms of direct democracy, if any, are currently possible at the national level? Please check the glossary for the definition of the following terms:
A.2.1 What is the legal basis for mandatory referendums at the national level?
A.2.2 What is the legal basis for optional referendums at the national level?
A.2.3 What is the legal basis for citizens' initiatives at the national level?
A.2.4 What is the legal basis for agenda initiatives at the national level?
A.2.5 What is the legal basis for recalls at the national level?
A.3.1 What is the legal basis for the administrative requirements for mandatory referendums at the national level? Tick as appropriate and specify the relevant constitutional, legal or regulatory provisions below.
A.3.2 What is the legal basis for the administrative requirements for optional referendums at the national level? Tick as appropriate and specify the relevant constitutional, legal or regulatory provisions below.
A.3.3 What is the legal basis for the administrative requirements for citizens' initiatives at the national level? Tick as appropriate and specify the relevant constitutional, legal or regulatory provisions below.
A.3.4 What is the legal basis for the administrative requirements for agenda initiatives at the national level? Tick as appropriate and specify the relevant constitutional, legal or regulatory provisions below.
A.3.5 What is the legal basis for the administrative requirements for recalls at the national level? Tick as appropriate and specify the relevant constitutional, legal or regulatory provisions below.
A.4.1 When were direct democracy mechanisms first introduced into the legal framework at the national level? Date (yyyy)
A.5.1 When was an administrative framework for direct democracy mechanisms first introduced at the national level? Date (yyyy)
A.6.1 Who is responsible for managing the administration of direct democracy mechanisms at the national level?
A.7.1 Does this agency/department also manage the administration of national elections?
A.8.1 Are mandatory referendums currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
A.8.2 Are optional referendums currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
A.8.3 Are citizens' initiatives currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
A.8.4 Are agenda initiatives currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
A.8.5 Are recalls currently possible at first tier (regions/states/provinces, etc) authority level?
A.9.1 Are mandatory referendums currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
A.9.2 Are optional referendums currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
A.9.3 Are citizens' initiatives currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
A.9.4 Are agenda initiatives currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
A.9.5 Are recalls currently possible at local (municipalities/districts/communes, etc) authority level?
B.1.1 What are the issues, if any, in relation to which referendums are mandatory at the national level?
B.2.1 What are the issues, if any, in relation to which referendums are optional at the national level?
B.3.1 Which issues, if any, are excluded from being the subject of referendums at the national level?
B.4.1 Which issues, if any, maybe the subject of sub-national referendums regulated at the national level?
B.5.1 Who can initiate a referendum at the national level?
B.6.1 Who is responsible for drafting the mandatory referendum question?
B.6.2 Who is responsible for drafting the optional referendum question?
B.7.1 Which of the following, if any, are required to be included in the mandatory referendum question?
B.7.2 Which of the following, if any, are required to be included in the optional referendum question?
B.8.1 Which institution(s) decides on the final form of the ballot text for mandatory referendums?
B.8.2 Which institution(s) decides on the final form of the ballot text for optional referendums?
B.9.1 What, if any, are the quorum requirements for a mandatory referendum to be valid? Please specify numbers/percentages.
B.9.2 What, if any, are the quorum requirements for a optional referendum to be valid? Please specify numbers/percentages.
B.10.1 What are the requirements for mandatory referendums to pass?
B.10.2 What are the requirements for optional referendums to pass?
B.11.1 In which areas, if any, do regulatory provisions differ between a referendum and a national election? Tick all that apply and specify below in the comments section.
B.12.1 When is the outcome of a mandatory referendum binding?
B.12.2 When is the outcome of an optional referendum binding?
C.1.1 Which types of issues can be proposed by citizens using the citizens' initiative process at the national level?
C.1.2 Which types of issues can be proposed by citizens using the agenda initiative process at the national level?
C.2.1 Which issues, if any, are excluded from being the subject of a citizens' initiative at the national level?
C.2.2 Which issues, if any, are excluded from being the subject of an agenda initiative at the national level?
C.3.1 Who may propose the registration of a citizens' initiative? Please specify in the “Comments” section below.
C.3.2 Who may propose the registration of an agenda initiative? Please specify in the “Comments” section below.
C.4.1 What material is necessary to accompany an application for registration?
C.5.1 Who determines the title of a citizens' initiative?
C.5.2 Who determines the title of an agenda initiative?
C.6.1 Which, if any, of the following disqualify a proposed title of an initiative?
C.7.1 Which services are provided by the agency/department responsible for the administration of direct democracy mechanisms before an initiative can be published?
C.8.1 Under what circumstances is an initiative checked for constitutionality or legality?
C.9.1 If a check of the constitutionality or legality of an initiative takes place, who is responsible for undertaking it?
C.10.1 If a check of the constitutionality or legality of an initiative takes place, when does this happen?
C.11.1 Which institutions, if any, are given an opportunity to propose an alternative to proposals contained in a citizens’ initiative?
C.12.1 At which stage in the initiative process, if at all, can alternative proposals be made?
C.13.1 What happens when there is a valid alternative proposal?
C.14.1 When an initiative proposal and an alternative proposal are put to the vote on the same day, what choices does the voter have?
C.15.1 Who decides the final ballot text?
C.16.1 Once an initiative is qualified for the ballot, the vote on it takes place:
D.1.1 Which of the following individuals/positions may be subject to the recall mechanism?
D.2.1 What are the grounds upon which a recall may be launched?
D.3.1 What restrictions, if any, are there in relation to the time period in which an individual/position can be recalled?
D.4.1 If a recall qualifies for the ballot, when is it put to the vote?
D.5.1 When does the election to replace an individual who has been recalled take place?
D.6.1 If a separate ballot to replace an individual who has been recalled takes place, how soon after the recall ballot is it held?
D.7.1 Can an individual who is the subject of a recall stand on the ballot for his/her own replacement?
E.1.1 How many verified signatures are required to start the formal decision-making stage for an abrogative referendum (optional)? Indicate figures in the appropriate boxes. If more than one answer exists for any individual box, explain in the comment section.
E.1.2 How many verified signatures are required to start the formal decision-making stage for a rejective referendum (optional)? Indicate figures in the appropriate boxes. If more than one answer exists for any individual box, explain in the comment section.
E.1.3 How many verified signatures are required to start the formal decision-making stage for a citizens' initiative? Indicate figures in the appropriate boxes. If more than one answer exists for any individual box, explain in the comment section.
E.1.4 How many verified signatures are required to start the formal decision-making stage for an agenda initiative? Indicate figures in the appropriate boxes. If more than one answer exists for any individual box, explain in the comment section.
E.1.5 How many verified signatures are required to start the formal decision-making stage for a recall? Indicate figures in the appropriate boxes. If more than one answer exists for any individual box, explain in the comment section.
E.2.1 What is the deadline, if any, for collecting the required number of signatures after a proposal for an abrogative referendum (optional) has been published?
E.2.2 What is the deadline, if any, for collecting the required number of signatures after a proposal for a rejective referendum (optional) has been published?
E.2.3 What is the deadline, if any, for collecting the required number of signatures after a proposal for a citizens' initiative has been published?
E.2.4 What is the deadline, if any, for collecting the required number of signatures after a proposal for an agenda initiative has been published?
E.2.5 What is the deadline, if any, for collecting the required number of signatures after a proposal for recall has been published?
E.3.1 What restrictions, if any, apply in relation to the individuals who can sign the proposal for an abrogative referendum (optional)?
E.3.2 What restrictions, if any, apply in relation to the individuals who can sign the proposal for a rejective referendum (optional)?
E.3.3 What restrictions, if any, apply in relation to the individuals who can sign the proposal for a citizens' initiative?
E.3.4 What restrictions, if any, apply in relation to the individuals who can sign the proposal for an agenda initiative?
E.3.5 What restrictions, if any, apply in relation to the individuals who can sign the proposal for a recall?
E.4.1 Where can proposals for an abrogative referendum (optional) be signed?
E.4.2 Where can proposals for a rejective referendum (optional) be signed?
E.4.3 Where can proposals for a citizens' initiative be signed?
E.4.4 Where can proposals for an agenda initiative be signed?
E.4.5 Where can proposals for a recall be signed?
E.5.1 What information must signatories provide when signing the proposal for an abrogative referendum (optional)?
E.5.2 What information must signatories provide when signing the proposal for a rejective referendum (optional)?
E.5.3 What information must signatories provide when signing the proposal for a citizens' initiative?
E.5.4 What information must signatories provide when signing the proposal for an agenda initiative?
E.5.5 What information must signatories provide when signing the proposal for a recall?
E.6.1 What restrictions, if any, are there in relation to signature collection for an abrogative referendum (optional)?
E.6.2 What restrictions, if any, are there in relation to signature collection for a rejective referendum (optional)?
E.6.3 What restrictions, if any, are there in relation to signature collection for a citizens' initiative?
E.6.4 What restrictions, if any, are there in relation to signature collection for an agenda initiative?
E.6.5 What restrictions, if any, are there in relation to signature collection for a recall?
E.7.1 What form of checks are undertaken to verify signatures for a referendum?
E.7.2 What form of checks are undertaken to verify signatures for a citizens' initiative?
E.7.3 What form of checks are undertaken to verify signatures for a recall?
E.8.1 Who is responsible for checking the signatures?
F.1.1 Which organisation(s), if any, is responsible for running non-partisan information or voter education campaigns to inform voters about the issue being addressed in a referendum?
F.1.2 Which organisation(s), if any, is responsible for running non-partisan information or voter education campaigns to inform voters about the issue being addressed in an initiative?
F.1.3 Which organisation(s), if any, is responsible for running non-partisan information or voter education campaigns to inform voters about the issue being addressed in a recall?
F.2.1 What activities, if any, are undertaken as part of non-partisan information or voter education campaigns for a referendum?
F.2.2 What activities, if any, are undertaken as part of non-partisan information or voter education campaigns for an initiative?
F.2.3 What activities, if any, are undertaken as part of non-partisan information or voter education campaigns for a recall?
F.3.1 Which of the following controls, if any, apply in relation to campaigning for or against the issue being addressed in a referendum?
F.3.2 Which of the following controls, if any, apply in relation to campaigning for or against the issue being addressed in an initiative?
F.3.3 Which of the following controls, if any, apply in relation to campaigning for or against the issue being addressed in a recall?
F.4.1 What is the period during which these controls apply for a referendum?
F.4.2 What is the period during which these controls apply for an initiative?
F.4.3 What is the period during which these controls apply for a recall?
F.5.1 Which campaigners, if any, are entitled to some forms of public assistance for a referendum? Specify in the “Comments” section below.
F.5.2 Which campaigners, if any, are entitled to some forms of public assistance for an initiative? Specify in the “Comments” section below.
F.5.3 Which campaigners, if any, are entitled to some forms of public assistance for a recall? Specify in the “Comments” section below.
F.6.1 Which forms of public assistance, if any, are provided for a referendum? Specify in the “Comments” section below.
F.6.2 Which forms of public assistance, if any, are provided for an initiative? Specify in the “Comments” section below.
F.6.3 Which forms of public assistance, if any, are provided for a recall? Specify in the “Comments” section below.
F.7.1 If free media access is provided, what are the criteria for allocating broadcast time / printing space?
F.8.1 Is the government permitted to campaign either in favour of or against any specific outcome to a referendum, initiatives or recall vote?
F.9.1 What restrictions or controls, if any, are there on media coverage of the campaign and/or issue during the relevant period?
last modified March 04, 2006 23:11