initiative
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main reference
- In referendum and initiative
initiative, electoral devices by which voters may express their wishes with regard to government policy or proposed legislation. They exist in a variety of forms.
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elections
- In election: Referendum and initiative
The referendum and initiative are elections in which the preferences of the community are assessed on a particular issue; whereas the former are instigated by those in government, the latter are initiated by groups of electors. As forms of direct democracy, such devices reflect…
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Switzerland
- In Switzerland: Constitutional framework
The first such initiative was undertaken in 1893, when voters decided against the wishes of the parliament and endorsed the prohibition of the killing of animals according to Jewish religious methods. More recently, voters have cast ballots on whether to join the European Economic Area (rejected), eliminate the…
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