There is a growing body of
opinion that INdirect,
representative
government is not fully up to the task of running ALL our public
affairs ALL of the time.
On some important issues, the electorate wishes to propose
policy (by citizens'
initiative*) and if
necessary to decide directly in referendum**.
To guide selected items of government policy and law, in
between elections, the
electorate should be able to exercise veto (via referendum).
Opinion
survey data on our system of governance and many, many comments of
"ordinary" people support these assertions.
Continue
*Citizens' Initiative
With the "initiative" a citizen or group has the right to put forward a
proposal to introduce or change law. In order that a proposal will be
put to the electorate (in a "referendum" or "ballot") an agreed number
of endorsements ("signatures") must be collected and validated.
**Referendum
If the required number of endorsements is obtained, there are two ways
to proceed:
1) The proposal is put to the electorate in a referendum.
2) The proposal is first presented to parliament or local council,
which must debate it. Parliament or council may adopt the proposal and
pass it as law. Proposals which are rejected must be put to the
electorate in a referendum. If a majority of the electorate votes for
the proposal then it becomes law.