Local Direct Democracy in Europe [electronic resource] /
Schiller, Theo.editor.
Modern direct democracy has recently become an important element of political life in many countries. These developments can be observed at the national, regional, and local level of political systems. Participation and democracy in local political affairs play a major role in stabilising and developing democratic systems. This volume presents, for the first time, a broad basis of information on the wide variety of local institutions and practice of direct democracy in 19 countries. Country specialists analyse - the role of direct democracy in the institutional context and culture of national political systems, - political processes of introduction and development of initiatives and referendums, - regulations of procedures of municipal direct democracy, - practice of local direct democracy, - the contribution of local direct democracy to democratic development in general.
Description based upon print version of record.
Contents; Preface; Local Direct Democracy in Europe - a comparative overview; 1 General considerations and structure of the book; Some general literature and sources; Countries included in the book; 2 Basic developments and contexts of democracy; 3 Forms of local direct democracy; Main forms in local affairs; Regulations and Profiles9; 4 Practice; 5 Conclusions - political impact and quality of local direct democracy; Different rules and practices in context; Contributions to democracy; References; Appendix; I. Emerging Patterns
The uneasy balance between participation and represent Republic1ation: local direct democracy in the Czech Republic1History and overview of direct democracy legislation in the Czech Republic; Local referendums on municipal separation; Citizen-initiated and council-initiated local referendums; Voter information and responsiveness in the local referendum in Brno; Electoral and policy consequences of the Brno referendum; Conclusion; References; Select Legislative Sources; Local direct democracy in Germany - varieties in a federal state; 1 Historical background and recent developments
2 Instruments of Local Direct Democracy available3 Local initiatives and referendums: regulations in 16 laender.; 4 Practice; Frequency of usage; Issues of initiatives and referendums; Procedural stages and results; Admissibility of initiatives; Adoption of proposals by council; Ballot vote: success or failure; Participation; 5 Conclusions; References; Data Source; Appendix; The institutionalisation of the referendum in the Italian political system: from the national to regional and local levels; Introduction; 1 The constitutional framework of the referendum2
National level
Includes bibliographical references.
Modern direct democracy has recently become an important element of political life in many countries. These developments can be observed at the national, regional, and local level of political systems. Participation and democracy in local political affairs play a major role in stabilising and developing democratic systems. This volume presents, for the first time, a broad basis of information on the wide variety of local institutions and practice of direct democracy in 19 countries. Country specialists analyse - the role of direct democracy in the institutional context and culture of national political systems, - political processes of introduction and development of initiatives and referendums, - regulations of procedures of municipal direct democracy, - practice of local direct democracy, - the contribution of local direct democracy to democratic development in general.
Political science.
Comparative politics.
Political Science.
Comparative Politics.