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Direct Democracy

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When were direct democracy mechanisms first introduced into the legal framework at the national level? Date (yyyy)

total countries/territories: 138
Disclaimer: This section of Comparative Data is not being updated. Users should be aware that data may be inaccurate. If you find inaccuracies, please contact the ACE facilitators.
Afghanistan Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable x Antigua and Barbuda Mandatory referendum July 1981 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Albania Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1998 Citizens' initiative 1998 Agenda initiative 1998 Recall Not applicable Argentina American Samoa Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Austria Mandatory referendum 1920 Optional referendum 1920 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative 1920 Recall Not applicable Australia Mandatory referendum 1898 Optional referendum 1898 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Burkina Faso Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable X Bulgaria Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1991 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Bahrain Mandatory referendum 2002 Optional referendum 2002 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Benin Mandatory referendum 1960 Optional referendum 1960 Citizens' initiative 1960 Agenda initiative 1960 Recall 1960 Not applicable Bolivia Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Bahamas Mandatory referendum 1973 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Botswana Mandatory referendum 1966 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Belarus Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1994 Citizens' initiative 1996 Agenda initiative 1994 Recall 1994 Not applicable Canada Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1992 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Switzerland Mandatory referendum 1848, 1949, 1977 Optional referendum 1874, 1921 Citizens' initiative 1848, 1891, 2003 Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Côte d'Ivoire Mandatory referendum 1er Aout 2000 Optional referendum 7 Aout 1960 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Cook Islands Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Colombia Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Constitucion Politica de 1991 Not applicable Costa Rica Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 2006 Citizens' initiative 2006 Agenda initiative 2006 Recall Not applicable Cuba Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Czech Republic Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1993 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Germany No direct democracy mechanisms at the national level with exceptions for the reorganization of the federal territory (Art. 29 para. 2 GG) and in the case of a new constitution (Art. 146 GG). Denmark Mandatory referendum 1915 Optional referendum 1953 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Algeria Mandatory referendum 1997 Optional referendum 1997 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Ecuador Mandatory referendum ** Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Estonia Mandatory referendum 1920 (1919) Optional referendum 1920 (1919 ) Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Egypt Mandatory referendum 1956 Optional referendum 1956 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Western Sahara Mandatory referendum 1994 Optional referendum 1994 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Eritrea Mandatory referendum 1992 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Ethiopia Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall 1999 Not applicable Finland Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1.7.1987 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Micronesia, Federated States of Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 2000 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Georgia Mandatory Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable French Guiana Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Ghana Mandatory referendum 1957 Constitution Optional referendum Not applicable Citizens' initiative 1957 Constitution Agenda initiative 1957 Consttitution Recall Not Applicable at teh national level. Not applicable Gambia Mandatory referendum 1997 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Greece Optional referendum 1925/1927 Guam Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative 1974 Agenda initiative 1974 Recall 1974 Not applicable Croatia Mandatory referendum 1991 Optional referendum 1991 Citizens' initiative 1991 Agenda initiative Recall 1991 Not applicable Hungary Mandatory referendum 1989 Optional referendum 1989 Citizens' initiative 1989 Agenda initiative 1989 Recall Not applicable Indonesia Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Ireland Mandatory referendum 1937 Optional referendum 1937 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Israel Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable X Iraq Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Iran, Islamic Republic of Mandatory referendum: 1979 Constitution Optional referendum: 1979 Constitution Iceland Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Italy The direct democracy mechanisms were first introduced with the 1948 Constitution. Jordan Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Japan Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Kenya Mandatory referendum 2004 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Kyrgyzstan Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Kiribati Mandatory referendum 1979 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Saint Kitts and Nevis 19 September 1983 Korea, Republic of Mandatory referendum 1954 Optional referendum 1954 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Kazakhstan 1991 Lao People's Democratic Republic Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Lebanon Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable X Saint Lucia Mandatory referendum Feb 1979 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Liechtenstein Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 24 October 1921 Citizens' initiative 24 October 1921 Agenda initiative 24 October 1921 Recall 24 October 1921 Not applicable Sri Lanka 1978 Liberia Mandatory referendum January 6, 1986 Optional referendum January 6, 1986 Citizens' initiative January 6, 1986 Agenda initiative January 6, 1986 Recall 1986 Not applicable Lesotho Mandatory referendum 1966 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Lithuania Mandatory referendum 1992 Optional referendum 1992 Citizens' initiative 1992 Agenda initiative 1992 Recall Not applicable Luxembourg Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Latvia Mandatory referendum 1922 Optional referendum 1994 Citizens' initiative 1994 Agenda initiative 1994 Recall Not applicable Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Morocco Mandatory referendum 1996 Optional referendum 1996 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Moldova, Republic of Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1905 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Madagascar Mandatory referendum 1992 Optional referendum 1992 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Mandatory referendum 1991 Optional referendum 1991 Citizens' initiative 1991 Agenda initiative 1991 Recall Not applicable Mali Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Mongolia Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Mauritania Mandatory referendum 1991 Optional referendum 1991 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Malta Mandatory referendum 1964 Optional referendum 1996 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Mauritius Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable N/A Maldives Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Malawi Mandatory referendum 1993 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Malaysia Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Mozambique Mandatory referendum 1990 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Namibia Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1992 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Niger Mandatory referendum 18 juillet 1999 Optional referendum 18 juillet 1999 Citizens' initiative Pas de precision pour le moment Agenda initiative Pas de precision pour le moment Recall 18 juillet 1999 Not applicable Nigeria Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Nicaragua Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Netherlands Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 2002 and 4th February 2005 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Norway Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1905 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Nauru Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable New Zealand Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Panama Mandatory referendum in 1972 Optional referendum in 1972 Citizens' initiative in 1972 Agenda initiative Recall 2004 Not applicable Peru Mandatory referendum Mayo 1994 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Mayo 1994 Recall Not applicable Papua New Guinea Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Philippines Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Pakistan Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Poland Mandatory referendum 1995 Optional referendum 1995 Citizens' initiative 1995 Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Puerto Rico Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Palestine Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Palau Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Paraguay Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Qatar Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 2003 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Romania Mandatory referendum 1990 Optional referendum 2000 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall 1992 Not applicable Russian Federation Mandatory referendum 1991 Optional referendum 1991 Citizens' initiative 1991 Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Rwanda Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Solomon Islands Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable X Seychelles Mandatory referendum 1992 Optional referendum 1993 Citizens' initiative n/a Agenda initiative n/a Recall n/a Not applicable Sudan Mandatory referendum 1998 Optional referendum 1998 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Sweden Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Before the first national referendum in Sweden in 1922, after a proposal presented before Parliament. Singapore Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Slovakia Mandatory referendum 1992 Optional referendum 1992 Citizens' initiative 1992 Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Sierra Leone Mandatory referendum 1ST DECEMBER 1991 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable San Marino Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Senegal Mandatory referendum 24 avril 1981 Optional referendum 24 avril 1981 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall 24 avril 1981 Not applicable Somalia Mandatory referendum 2000 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable El Salvador Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Syrian Arab Republic Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Swaziland Mandatory referendum 1992 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Togo Mandatory referendum 1992 Optional referendum * Citizens' initiative 1992 Agenda initiative 1992 Recall * Not applicable * Thailand Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Tajikistan Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Timor-Leste Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 2002 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Turkmenistan Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Tunisia Mandatory referendum 1959 Optional referendum 1959 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Tonga N/A Turkey Mandatory referendum 1982 Optional referendum 1982 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Tanzania, United Republic of Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Ukraine Mandatory referendum 1991 Optional referendum 1991 Citizens' initiative 1991 Agenda initiative Recall 1991 Not applicable Uganda Mandatory referendum The Electoral Commission (Amendment) Statute was assented to on 13 March 2000 and commenced on 14 March 2000. Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable United States of America Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Uruguay Mandatory referendum 1967 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative 1934 Agenda initiative 1967 Recall Not applicable Uzbekistan Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Mandatory referendum Oct 1979 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Viet Nam Mandatory referendum Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Vanuatu 1980 Yemen Mandatory referendum 1994 Optional referendum 1994 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable South Africa Mandatory referendum Optional referendum 1994 Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Zambia Mandatory referendum 1967 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable Zimbabwe Mandatory referendum 1980 Optional referendum Citizens' initiative Agenda initiative Recall Not applicable

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