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Direct Democracy

Chile

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The only direct democracy mechanism established by law is called 'plebiscite'. Art 128: "El Tribunal Calificador comunicará al Presidente de la República el resultado del plebiscito, y especificará el texto del proyecto aprobado por la ciudadanía, el que deberá ser promulgado como reforma constitucional dentro de los cinco días siguientes a dicha comunicación. Una vez promulgado el proyecto y desde la fecha de su vigencia, sus disposiciones formarán parte de la Constitución y se tendrán por incorporadas a ésta." - The Qualifying Tribunal shall communicate to the President of the Republic the result of the plebiscite and shall specify the text of the bill approved by the citizens, which shall be promulgated as a constitutional reform within five days following such communication. Once the bill has been promulgated and from the date of its entry into force, its provisions shall form part of the Constitution and shall be deemed to be incorporated into it.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 128 & 129: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/
Verified:	2025/03/27

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 128 & 129: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/
Verified:	2025/03/27

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The only direct democracy mechanism established by law is called 'plebiscite'.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 128 & 129: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/
Verified:	2025/03/27

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 128 & 129: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/
Verified:	2025/03/27

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 128 & 129: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/
Verified:	2025/03/27

DD007

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 128 & 129: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/
Verified:	2025/03/27

DD129

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 128 & 129: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/ Electoral Law: “Ley Orgánica Constitucional sobre Votaciones Populares y Escrutinios (2016)”, art. 172: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-ley-sobre-votaciones-populares-y-escrutinios/
Verified:	2025/03/27

DD130

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	a. Constitutional changes only
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 128 & 129: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/
Verified:	2025/03/27

DD131

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Article 118.- The municipalities may associate among themselves in accordance with the respective constitutional organic law, and such associations may enjoy legal personality under private law. Likewise, they may constitute or integrate non-profit corporations or foundations of private law whose purpose is the promotion and dissemination of art, culture and sports, or the promotion of community and productive development works. Municipal participation in them shall be governed by the aforementioned constitutional organic law. The municipalities may establish within the scope of the communes or group of communes, in accordance with the respective constitutional organic law, territories called neighborhood units, in order to promote a balanced development and an adequate channeling of citizen participation. The public services shall coordinate with the municipality when carrying out their work in the respective communal territory, in accordance with the law. The law shall determine the form and manner in which the ministries, public services and regional governments may transfer competencies to the municipalities, as well as the provisional or definitive nature of the transfer.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de la República de Chile (2017)”, art. 118: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CL/chile-constitucion-politica-de-la-republica-de-1/
Verified:	2025/04/01

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