2016 Senegalese constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in Senegal on 20 March 2016. Poposed by President Macky Sall, it was the fourth constitutional referendum in Senegalese history. The proposed changes to the constitution were approved by 62% of voters. Voter turnout was 39%. A majority voted in favour in thirteen of the fourteen regions, with only Diourbel Region seeing a majority against. Constitutional amendments. A total of 15 changes were proposed to the constitution: Modernising the role of political parties. Article 4 was expanded, adding more rules and guidelines for political parties. One addition states that parties based  on "one race, to one ethnicity, to one sex, to one religion, to one sect, to one language or to one part of the territory" are prohibited. Participation of independent candidates in all types of elections. Before the referendum, independent candidates were unable to run in both legislative and local elections. Creation of the High Council of Local Authorities. To some, part of the change represents a rebirth of the former Senate which was abolished in 2012. The decision to make the bicameral system unicameral came from the need to pay for the expensive damages caused by flooding in the  country. The recognition of new rights for citizens and the strengthening of the duty of the citizen. Subsections 25-1, 25-2, and 25-3 were added after article 25. The first two sentences of Article 25-1 state: "The natural resources belong to the people. They are used for the amelioration of the conditions of life." The first sentence of Article 25-2 states, "Each has the right to a healthy environment." The first sentence of Article 25-3 states, "Every citizen is held to scrupulously protect the Constitution, the laws and regulations, notably, to accomplish their civic duties  and to respect the rights of others." It also states every citizen must defend the country against aggression, corruption, and misappropriation. Some also saw this as the potential for legalising same-sex marriage, which is currently criminalised, because of the vague wording. Shortening of presidential term. When elected in 2012, incumbent President Macky Sall had promised on the campaign trail to shorten the presidential term back from seven years to five years which would reverse a 2008 Constitutional Revision from the previous president, Abdoulaye Wade. Contrary to the promise Sall made to end his mandate in 2017, the shortening of  the presidential term would only apply for the next presidential election in 2019 onwards and therefore allowing him to finish his seven year term. This led decision led to some to criticise his reversed promise. Strengthening the rights of the opposition. Article 58 states: "The law defines this status and establishes the rights and duties accruing to them as well as to the Head of the opposition." Deputies Abroad. The following sentence was added to Article 59 of the Constitution: "The Senegalese abroad elect Deputies." The original bill only added 10 new deputies to represent Senegalese abroad, however, 15 new  deputies were added in the end. Two new constituencies in Europe, one in the Americas and Oceania, one in Asia and the Middle East, and four others across Africa were added in order to elect the new deputies, with a total of eight new constituencies globally, adding to the 45 current domestic Departments of Senegal. Citizens directly elect their one representative based on where they are living. Europe has six deputy seats, other parts of Africa have seven seats, and the Americas and Oceania have one combined seat as well as Asia and the Middle East. Some opposition in the  Senegalese Democratic Party (PDS) resisted the increase of seats in the National Assembly. The deputy of the PDS called the measure "absurd." The PDS is a part of the Manko Wattu Sénégal coalition. For some this is because Sall's political coalition of Benno Bokk Yaakaar holds a dozen out of the 15 diaspora seats. Additionally, the opposition proposed to keep 150 seats of the legislature, but simply add 10 for the diaspora rather than adding 15 seats to create a total of 165 deputies. The extension of the powers of the National Assembly. New measures were added to increase  the powers of the National Assembly, including in Article 59 which explains the role of the Parliament. The article states that the National Assembly "votes, alone, the laws, controls the action of the Government and evaluates the public policies." The submission to the Constitutional Council. The organisation has the right to review laws "relating to the organisation and functioning of the public powers voted by the deputies to modify certain provisions of the Constitution." The increase of Constitutional Council members from 5 to 7. The two increased members are added by the President of the National Assembly in contrast to  the original five who are added by the President of the Republic. The designation by the President of the National Assembly of Constitutional Council members. This is seen by some as an increase on the powers of the executive. The extension of the powers of the Constitutional Council. This allows the Constitutional Council to have direct advisory powers and to hear matters of unconstitutionality raised by the Court of Appeal. The constitutionalisation of the principles of decentralisation and deconcentration. An increase of protection on laws regarding decentralisation and deconcentration which sometimes change with turnovers of power. The intangibility of the  provisions relating to the republican form, to secularism, with the indivisible, democratic and decentralised character of the State, the mode of election, the duration and the number of mandates consecutive years of the President of the Republic.. The use of the word "secularism" worried some as Senegal is a state where 94% of residents identify as Muslim. Some see this addition as another way to legalise same-sex marriage or as a possibility for a third presidential term.