DEFINITIONS: Direct Democracy Popular Initiatives & Referendums

QUOTE: "The distinction between popular initiatives and referendums is crucial, as popular initiatives are designed to alter the status quo, whereas referendums are created to prevent change. In a popular initiative, citizens are allowed to place matters of concern directly on the ballot, without necessarily receiving the prior consent of the country’s main political offices, thereby acting as proactive players on certain topics. In a referendum, citizens are also allowed to decide matters of concern directly on the ballot, without necessarily receiving the consent of the country’s main political offices, but in these cases citizens are limited to a reactive or veto player role on certain topics. In the words of Magleby, popular initiatives are a reaction to “sins of omission,” while referendums a reaction to “sins of commission” (Magleby 1994)."

DAVID ALTMAN - "Citizenship and Contemporary

Direct Democracy" 2019

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