Facilitators' Answers —

You are here: Home → Support and Advice → Archive → Questions → Facilitators' Answers

Direct Democracy

Estonia

DD002

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	§ 56: The supreme power of state shall be exercised by the people through citizens with the right to vote: 2) through a referendum.
Source:	Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia with latest amendment on 6 May 2015 § 56, 65:(2), 105 & 162-168. Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2019/02/20

DD003

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Referendum Act: §1:(1) The Riigikogu shall submit any amendment of Chapters 1 and 15 of the Constitution to a referendum. The Riigikogu may submit other draft Acts that amend the Constitution, and other draft Acts or other national issues to a referendum.
Source:	Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia with latest amendment on 6 May 2015, § 56, 65, 105 & 162-168. Law: Referendum Act latest amended 12 October 2016 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2019/02/20

DD004

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Law: § 1: (1) The Riigikogu shall submit any amendment of Chapters 1 and 15 of the Constitution to a referendum. The Riigikogu may submit other draft Acts that amend the Constitution, and other draft Acts or other national issues to a referendum.
Source:	Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia with latest amendment on 6 May 2015, § 56, 65, 105 & 162-168. Law: Referendum Act latest amended 12 October 2016 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2019/02/20

DD005

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	§ 103. The right to initiate a Bill rests with the following: 1) a member of the Riigikogu; 2) a political group of the Riigikogu; 3) a committee of the Riigikogu; 4) the Government of the Republic; 5) the President, when proposing amendments to the Constitution. The Riigikogu is entitled, on the basis of a resolution carried by a majority of the members, to address a recommendation to the Government of the Republic to initiate a Bill desired by the Riigikogu
Source:	Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia with latest amendment on 6 May 2015, § 103 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2019/02/20

DD006

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2015/03/03

DD007

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2015/03/03

DD129

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:	Referendum Act: § 4. Obligation to comply with decision of referendum The decision of a referendum shall be binding for all state authorities. Constitution, § 105: (3 )A law which is passed by a referendum is promptly promulgated by the President. The decision of the referendum is binding on all public bodies.
Source:	Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia with latest amendment on 6 May 2015, § 105(3). Law: Referendum Act latest amended 12 October 2016 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2019/02/20

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:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:	Law: § 1: (1) The Riigikogu shall submit any amendment of Chapters 1 and 15 of the Constitution to a referendum. The Riigikogu may submit other draft Acts that amend the Constitution, and other draft Acts or other national issues to a referendum.
Source:	Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia with latest amendment on 6 May 2015, § 56, 65, 105 & 162-168. Law: Referendum Act latest amended 12 October 2016 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2019/02/20

DD131

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified:	2015/03/03

The data on this page is continuously updated. Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.