|
total countries/territories: 100
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Albania
|
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
“C”: The constitution uses the broad expression “issues of special importance”.
Source:
Art 81 and 150 et seq. Constitution Art 118 et seq. Electoral Code
|
2005/03/17
|
|
Algeria
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Article 174, Constitution
|
2005/04/29
|
|
American Samoa
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Filivaa M. Mageo, Deputy Director of Elections, Territorial Election Office
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Andorra
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/26
|
|
Argentina
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Austria
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Bahamas
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/15
|
|
Bahrain
|
d. Not applicable
|
Fifteen members of the Consultative Council or the Chamber of Deputies are entitled to request proposing an amendment to the Constitution. Any member of the two chambers is entitled to propose laws. Each proposal shall be referred to the relevant committee in the chamber in which the proposal was made for an opinion. If the chamber sees fit to accept the proposal, it shall refer it to the Government to formulate it as a draft amendment of the Constitution or as a draft law and present it to the Chamber of Deputies during the same or succeeding period.
Source:
Article 92, Constitution
|
2005/05/01
|
|
Bangladesh
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Belarus
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
Art 97, 99, 138 et seq. Constitution
|
2005/03/25
|
|
Belgium
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Benin
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Mr Theodule Nouatchi enseignant de droit a l'universite au benin.
|
2005/02/26
|
|
Botswana
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Brazil
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
Brazil allows for direct democracy at national and sub-national levels, including regional and local levels. The plebiscite and the referendum are called by legislative decree. In other matters, under the jurisdiction of states, the Federal District, and municipalities, the plebiscite and the referendum will be called in accordance with the respective state constitution and the Organic Law. (Source: Plebiscite and Referendum)
Constitution:
Article 14. Popular sovereignty shall be exercised through universal suffrage and direct and secret voting, with equal value for all, and, in accordance with the law, through:
I – plebiscite;
II – referendum;
III – popular initiative.
Article 18. The political-administrative organization of the Federative Republic of Brazil comprises the Union, the states, the Federal District, and the municipalities, all autonomous, according to this Constitution.
§ 3. States may incorporate themselves with one another, subdivide, or dismember to annex to others, or form new states or federal territories, subject to approval by the directly interested population through a plebiscite, and by the National Congress, through a complementary law.
§ 4. The creation, incorporation, merging, and dismemberment of municipalities shall be done by state law, within the period determined by federal complementary law, and shall depend on prior consultation, through a plebiscite, of the populations of the municipalities involved, after the publication of the Municipal Viability Studies, presented and published in accordance with the law.
Article 29.
XIII – popular initiative for bills of specific interest to the municipality, city, or neighborhoods, through a manifestation of at least five percent of the electorate;
Source:
Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988, Article 14, 18(3, 4), 29 (XIII), 49:
https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/constituicao-federal/constituicao-da-republica-federativa-do-brasil
Law No. 9,709, of November 18, 1998:
https://www.planalto.gov.br/Ccivil_03/leis/L9709.htm
Plebiscite and Referendum:
https://www.tse.jus.br/eleicoes/plebiscitos-e-referendos
|
2024/10/25
|
|
Bulgaria
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/03
|
|
Burkina Faso
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/12
|
|
Cambodia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/06
|
|
Canada
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Cape Verde
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
c) All matters that can be put to referendum.
C:ChII:108 "1. The electors registered in the electoral census in the national territory shall have the right to pronounce themselves through a referendum on any matter relevant to national or local interest. 2. The convening and the holding of a referendum shall be prohibited between the date of the convening and the holding of the elections for the organs of sovereignty or of local power, during the state of siege or emergency and until thirty days following its cessation, and in the latter case, only in the part of the territory declared to be under the state of emergency. 3. Each referendum shall only have a sole question as its object and the following questions shall not, in any case, be submitted to popular scrutiny: a) Separation and the interdependence of the organs of sovereignty and their powers; b) Independence of the courts and their decisions; c) Separation of churches from the State; d) Appointment of the elected holders of the organs of sovereignty and of local administration by universal, direct, secret and periodic ballot; e) Pluralism of expression, existence of political parties and associations and rights of the opposition; f) Rights, liberties and guarantees established constitutionally; g) National or local acts which have a budgetary, tributary or financial content; h) Autonomy of the local administration, as well as the organization and competence of their organs. 4. The proposals for a referendum shall be subject to preventive monitoring of their constitutionality and legality. 5. Once the proposal for a referendum is judged to be unconstitutional or illegal, such referendum shall not take place, nor shall the proposal be renewed in the same legislature. 6. Proposals for a referendum that have been refused by the competent organ or that have been the object of a negative response from the electorate shall not be renewed in the same legislature. 7. The result of a referendum shall be abided by all organs of political power, as well as by public and private entities. 8. The provisions of Articles 102 to 105 shall be applicable to the referenda, with the necessary
adaptations. 9. The questions to be submitted to the electors shall be formulated with simplicity, objectivity, precision and clarity, in such a way as not to suggest, directly or indirectly, any response. Any response shall be given as a "yes" or a "nay."
C:ChII:109 "1. The referendum at the national level shall be convened by the President of the Republic, at the initiative of the people, the National Assembly or the Government. 2. At the people's initiative, the President of the Republic may convene a referendum on any matter relevant to national interest, at the request of thirty thousand citizens, after the political parties
represented in the National Assembly and the Council of the Republic are heard. 3. The request referred to in the preceding paragraph should be sponsored by a minimum of ten per cent of the electors, residing in, at least, seven islands. 4. The proposal of the National Assembly shall be approved by two thirds of the deputies present, if the number is higher than the absolute majority of the deputies on active duty."
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde, articles 108-109
|
2006/11/28
|
|
Chile
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Colombia
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
|
2005/06/23
|
|
Cook Islands
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Teokoati Joseph, Chief Probation Officer, Probation Service – Ministry of Justice
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Croatia
|
c. Other (specify)
|
Source:
Mr. Damir Azenic, GONG
|
2005/11/14
|
|
Cyprus
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/26
|
|
Czech Republic
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
DOGOU ALAIN, Rapporteur de la sous commission des operations electorales de la COMMISSION ELECTORALE INDEPENDANTE
|
2005/04/07
|
|
Denmark
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/28
|
|
Ecuador
|
c. Other (specify)
|
Source:
Constitución Política: Art.,105
|
2005/04/26
|
|
Egypt
|
d. Not applicable
|
Not applicable. Only the government or president takes the initiatives
Source:
Article 62, Constitution
Article 1, Political rights Law
|
2025/09/30
|
|
Eritrea
|
a. Constitutional amendments
|
Source:
Eritrean referendum proclamation no. 22/1992
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Estonia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/29
|
|
Finland
|
d. Not applicable
|
The initiative is possible only at local referendums. The subject of the referendum is restricted to local matters.
|
2005/04/14
|
|
Gambia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/09
|
|
Ghana
|
a. Constitutional amendments
|
Source:
Chapter Twenty - five of the 1992 constitution.
|
2005/12/15
|
|
Guam
|
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
Gerald A. Taitano, Executive Director, Guam Election Commission
|
2007/01/10
|
|
Hungary
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
c) All matters except those that are excluded by tha law.
C:28/C "(1) A national referendum may be held for reaching a decision or for an expression of opinion. Carrying out a national referendum may be mandatory or may be the result of the consideration of a matter. (2) A national referendum shall be held if so initiated by at least 200,000 voting citizens. (3) If a national referendum is mandatory, the result of the successfully held national referendum shall be binding for the Parliament. (4) Based on its consideration, the Parliament may order a national referendum upon the initiative by the President of the Republic, the Government, by one-third of Members of the Parliament or by 100,000 voting citizens. (5) National referendum may not be held on the following subjects: a) on laws on the central budget, the execution of the central budget, taxes to the central government and duties, customs tariffs, and on the central government conditions for local taxes, b) obligations set forth in valid international treaties and on the contents of laws prescribing such obligations, c) the provisions of the Constitution on national referenda and popular initiatives, d) personnel and restructuring (reorganization, termination) matters falling under Parliamentary jurisdiction, e) dissolution of the Parliament, f) the Government's program, g) declaration of a state of war, a state of emergency or a state of national crisis, h) use of the Hungarian Armed Forces abroad or within the country, i) dissolution of the representative body of local governments, j) amnesty. (6) A national ratification referendum shall be considered successful if more than half of the votes of the citizens voting are valid, but at least more than one-quarter of all eligible voters have given the same answer in the referendum.
Source:
The Constitution of the Republic of Hungary, art. 28/C
|
2006/12/01
|
|
Iran, Islamic Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2016/01/23
|
|
Iraq
|
a. Constitutional amendments
|
Source:
Jose Maria Aranaz, Legal Advisor, UN-EAD
|
2007/01/03
|
|
Ireland
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/11/27
|
|
Israel
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2015/03/15
|
|
Italy
|
b. Legislative proposals
|
Citizens can present proposals to amend or repeal a law.
Source:
Constitution, Art. 75
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Japan
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/12/25
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
At least by 200 thousand citizens of the Republic eligible to take part in the republican referendum, who quantitatively and equally shall represent all oblasts, capital of the Republic and city of the republican status, who shall request the President of the Republic to appoint a referendum.
President of the Republic upon an initiative of theParliament, the Government or citizens of the Republic to appoint referendum shall take one of the following decisions:
1) to appoint a referendum;
2) to make changes and additions to the Constitution, to adopt the constitutional act, the law or any other decision on the question(questions) proposed as the subject of referendum without conduct of referendum;
3) to reject the initiative to appoint a referendum.
Source:
Articles 11 and 17, Law on Referendum
|
2020/05/04
|
|
Kiribati
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2020/05/03
|
|
Korea, Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/12/25
|
|
Latvia
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
Constitution, 1922; Law on National Referendums and Legislative Initiatives, 1994.
|
2005/03/21
|
|
Lebanon
|
d. Not applicable
|
Not applicable. Only the Government and the Chamber of Deputies have the initiatives.
Source:
Articles 18 and 76, Constitution
|
2005/05/17
|
|
Liberia
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
For the removal of public servants
Constitution
|
2005/09/30
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
In Liechtenstein, all citizens initiatives must be considered by the parliament (legislative).
-If the initiative is passed by the parliament and implemented, i.e. put into law, there is no vote of the electorate, unless the parliament additionally decides that a public vote is to be held. (If it does not, there is the possibility for the electorate to call for a public vote (through the normal way of collecting signatures)).
-If the law is not passed, a vote of the electorate must be held.
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Lithuania
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
Consultative (deliberative) referendums may be held with respect to issues of utmost importance to the State and the People, regarding those for which is not necessary to hold a mandatory referendum. The proposal to hold such a referendum can be made by 300.000 citizens having the right to vote or by Seimas (parliament).
Source:
Law: Republic of Lithuania Law on Referendum, last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860, art. 7-8.
|
2007/01/15
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
Law on Referendum,
Article 62:
Proposal for approaching to change of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia may be submitted by 150,000 citizens with a right to vote.
The proposal shall state how and where to amend the Constitution, as well as the reasons for it.
Together with the proposal 150,000 signatures of citizens with a right to vote shall also be submitted.
Article 63:
Proposal for passing a law may be submitted by at least 10,000 voters.
The proposal for passing a law shall be prepared in accordance with the Journal of the Assembly.
Together with the proposal, 10,000 signatures of voters shall also be submitted.
Article 64:
Civil initiative for announcing referendum may also be raised by 150,000 voters, on issues that are under the authority of the Assembly.
Article 65:
Civil initiative is raised also for reaching decisions and resolving other issues that are under the authority of the Assembly.
In reference to the proposal from paragraph 1 of this article, the Assembly is obliged to decide within 60 days following the day of the submission, provided that the proposal is supported by at least 10,000 voters.
Constitution, Art. 71:
The right to propose adoption of a law is given to every Representative of the Assembly, to the Government of the Republic and to a group of at least 10,000 voters. The initiative for adopting a law may be given to the authorized instances by any citizen, group of citizens, institutions or associations.
Source:
Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, Art. 71:
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/mk/mk014en.pdf
Law on Referendum and civil initiative, Official Gazette of RM no. 24/98, art. 63-65:
https://www.legislationline.org/documents/id/5640
|
2020/04/23
|
|
Madagascar
|
d. Not applicable
|
Not provided for in law
|
2005/08/25
|
|
Malaysia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Mali
|
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
articles 26,118, 120, 121 de la constitution
|
2005/06/05
|
|
Mauritania
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/12/30
|
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Johnathan John, Director, FSM Elections
|
2007/01/08
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
d. Not applicable
|
No provisions for initiatives at national level.
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2021/03/30
|
|
Morocco
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Article 103, Constitution
|
2005/05/02
|
|
Namibia
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/10/17
|
|
Netherlands
|
d. Not applicable
|
None at the moment.
|
2005/09/06
|
|
New Zealand
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
Any New Zealand citizen can petition for a referendum, known as a ‘citizens initiated referendum’. For one of these to be held, at least ten percent of eligible voters must sign a petition supporting the proposed referendum question. For context, there were 3.5 million people enrolled to vote at the 2020 election.
These referendums are non-binding, which means the Government doesn’t have to act on the result of it. Under New Zealand law, non-binding referendums can be held on any subject.
Source:
https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features/what-is-a-citizens-initiated-referendum/
|
2024/07/12
|
|
Niger
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
Article 6 de la constitution et Pr Niandou Souley Abdoulaye
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Nigeria
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/12/30
|
|
Norway
|
d. Not applicable
|
No provisions for initiatives at national level.
Source:
Kare Vollan, Director, Quality AS
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Peru
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Philippines
|
a. Constitutional amendments
|
|
2005/07/08
|
|
Poland
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
Act on all-national referendum of 14 March 2003
Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland No 57 of 2 April 2003
Art. 63
|
2006/12/25
|
|
Portugal
|
b. Legislative proposals
|
|
2005/04/20
|
|
Qatar
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2006/12/31
|
|
Romania
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2005/03/20
|
|
Russian Federation
|
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
Detailed information is provided in Article 6 of the Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 .
Source:
Federal Constitutional Act on the Referendum of Russian Federation of 2004. N 5/FK3 . Art.6.
|
2005/03/26
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
d. Not applicable
|
Not applicable.
|
2020/04/26
|
|
Senegal
|
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
Article 51 de la constitution
|
2005/06/06
|
|
Seychelles
|
d. Not applicable
|
cititzen initiative does'nt exist
|
2005/08/30
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
a. Constitutional amendments
|
|
2005/06/13
|
|
Singapore
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2007/01/07
|
|
Slovakia
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
c) Important issues of public interest.
Source:
The Constitution of the Slovak Republic (1992), Art. 93(2)
|
2006/12/10
|
|
Slovenia
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
any issue which is the subject of regulation by law.
Source:
Art. 90 of the Constitution
|
2005/04/14
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
David Clark, Electoral Capacity Development Coordinator, Solomon Islands Election Commission
|
2007/01/09
|
|
Somalia
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
The law of the referendum constitution of the republic of Somalia article 1
|
2005/08/26
|
|
Spain
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2012/04/18
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2016/02/15
|
|
Sudan
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Article 66, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Sweden
|
d. Not applicable
|
Not applicable in Sweden on the national level.
|
2012/05/16
|
|
Switzerland
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
Constitution, Art. 138, 139
|
2012/05/14
|
|
Taiwan
|
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
Referendum Act
The Constitution of the Republic of China
|
2020/03/31
|
|
Thailand
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Mr. Somchai Thepareenun, Election Officer, Office of the Election Commission of Thailand
|
2007/01/12
|
|
Togo
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Constitution 1992 titre 1 article 4 alinea 2 ET 3 .
|
2005/05/12
|
|
Tonga
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2021/09/15
|
|
Tunisia
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 2, 47 and 72 of Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Turkey
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Art 175 Constitution, Rumpf - Steinbach, op. cit.
|
2015/06/01
|
|
Uganda
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
|
Source:
http://www.africaaction.org/docs00/ugan0004.htm
|
2005/08/24
|
|
Ukraine
|
a. Constitutional amendments
b. Legislative proposals
c. Other (specify)
|
Art. 5-6. of the Law on referenda
- right to self-determination and joining federative or confederative state formations, as well as leaving them may
- Questions attributed by legislation of Ukraine to local self-government jurisdiction of appropriate administrative and territorial unites, as well as questions on pre-term termination of appropriate Council of Peoples' deputies and its Chairperson's authorities may be submitted to local referendum.
The following questions within appropriate administrative and territorial units may be resolved exclusively by local Referenda: name and renameing of village Councils, settlement towns, rayons and regions (oblasts); merging in a simple unit of administrative and territorial units of the same, which have a common administrative center; alteration of local self-government's base level in rural districts (rayons), the questions of the reorganisation or liquidation of community-owned pre-school educational establishments, as well as pre-school educational establishments set up by the former agricultural collective and state-owned farms.
Source:
Art. 5-6. of the Law on referenda
|
2005/03/17
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
d. Not applicable
|
|
2012/05/09
|
|
Uruguay
|
a. Constitutional amendments
|
Puede emplearse para promover una reforma de la Constitución.
Source:
Artículo 331 (literal A) de la Constitución.
|
2006/04/11
|
|
Vanuatu
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Electoral Commission of Vanuatu
|
2016/01/27
|
|
Viet Nam
|
d. Not applicable
|
Citizens have the right to take part in managing the State and society, in debating on general issues of the
whole country or of the locality, and make petitions or recommendation to the state offices and vote at any
referendum held by the State.
Source:
constitution 1992
Article 53
|
2021/03/25
|
|
Western Sahara
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 42, 118, 156 and 158, Constitution
|
2009/08/14
|
|
Yemen
|
d. Not applicable
|
Source:
Articles 42, 118, 156 and 158, Constitution
|
2005/05/03
|
