Initiative
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{{dablink|This piece is about the popular or citizen's initiative. For alternative meanings of ''initiative'', see [[Initiative (disambiguation)]].}}
In [[political science]], the '''initiative''' (also known as '''popular''' or '''citizen's initiative''') provides a means by which a [[petition]] signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote on a proposed [[statute]], [[constitutional amendment]], charter amendment or [[local ordinance|ordinance]], or, in its minimal form, to simply oblige the executive or legislative bodies to consider the subject by submitting it to the order of the day. It is a form of [[direct democracy]]. It has also been referred to as "minority initiative," thus relating it to [[minority influence]] <ref> French specialist of Constitutional law, [[Olivier Duhamel]], speaks of an ''initiative minoritaire'' in ''Droit constitutionnel'' (1994), tome 2 ''Les Démocraties'', 3{{e}} édition, [[Éditions du Seuil]], coll. « Points / Essais » nº 414, Paris, 2000 ISBN 2-02-038982-7 p. 234–235</ref>.
The initiative may take the form of either the ''direct'' or ''indirect'' initiative. Under the direct initiative, a measure is put directly to a vote after being submitted by a petition. Under the indirect initiative, a measure is first referred to the [[legislature]], and then only put to a popular vote if not enacted by the legislature. In [[United States]] usage, a popular vote on a specific measure is referred to as a ''[[referendum]]'' only when originating with the [[legislature]]. Such a vote is known, when originating in the initiative process, as an "initiative," "ballot measure" or "proposition."
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== Brief history of popular initiative ==
The initiative is only available in a certain minority of jurisdictions. It was included in the [[Swiss Federal Constitution]] in 1891, permitting a certain number of citizens (currently 100,000) to make a request to amend a constitutional article, or even to introduce a new article into the constitution. Right of initiative is also used at the cantonal and communal level in Switzerland; many cantons allow initiatives to enact regular non-constitutional law, but the federal system does not. If the necessary number of supporters is reached, the initiative will be put to a [[referendum]] about two or three years later; the delay helps prevent short-term political moods to introduce themselves into the constitution. The parliament and government will both issue their official opinions on whether they recommend voting for or against the proposed amendment, and these opinions will be printed on the ballot. The parliament may also pass an alternative amendment suggestion which will also be included on the ballot; in this case, the voters cast two votes, one for whether or not they want an amendment, and one for which one they want, the original one from the initiative or the one introduced in parliament, in case a majority decides for amending. A citizen-proposed change to the constitution in Switzerland at the national level needs to achieve both a majority of the national popular vote and a majority of the canton-wide vote in more than half of the cantons to pass. The vast majority of national initiatives introduced since 1891 have failed to receive voter support.
Provision for the initiative was included in the [[1922]] constitution of the [[Irish Free State]], but was hastily abolished when republicans organised a drive to instigate a vote that would abolish the [[Oath of Allegiance (Ireland)|Oath of Allegiance]]. The initiative also formed part of the [[1920]] constitution of [[Estonia]].
== Initiative in the United States ==
In the United States the initiative is in use, at the level of state government, in 24 states and the District of Columbia [http://www.iandrinstitute.org/statewide_i&r.htm], and is also in common use at the local and city government level. The initiative has been recognized in the [[United States|US]] since at least [[1777]] when provision was made for it by the first constitution of Georgia.
The modern U.S. system of [[initiative and referendum]] originated in the state of [[South Dakota]]. South Dakota adopted [[initiative and referendum]] in 1898 by a vote of 23,816 to 16,483. South Dakota is also the only state to have the idea develop on home soil without knowledge of the Swiss measure. Oregon was the second state to adopt, and did so in [[1902]], when the [[Oregon Legislative Assembly|state's legislators]] adopted it by an overwhelming majority. The "Oregon System", as it was at first known, subsequently spread to many other states, and became one of the signature reforms of the [[Progressive Era]] (1890s-1920s). Well known U.S. initiatives include various measures adopted by voters in states such as [[Washington]], [[Oregon]], [[California]], [[Massachusetts]] and [[Alaska]].
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The first attempt to get '''National''' ballot initiatives occurred in [[1907]] when House Joint Resolution 44 was introduced by Rep. Elmer Fulton of Oklahoma. In [[1977]], both the Abourezk-Hatfield (National Voter Initiative) and Jagt Resolutions never got out of committee. [[Senator Mike Gravel]] (now a Presidential candidate) was part of that effort. Gravel since discovered a (controversial) method to get a new proposal, the [http://ni4d.us National Initiative for Democracy], into the Constitution without asking Congress. Registered U.S. voters can now vote at http://Vote.org to ratify the National Initiative, much as citizens—not the existing 13 State Legislatures—ratified the [[Constitution]] at the Constitutional conclusion.
== Popular initiatives in the European Union ==
The rejected [[Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe#Parliamentary power and transparency|Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe]] (TCE) included a limited indirect initiative right (Article I-46(4)). The proposal was that 1,000,000 citizens, from a minimal numbers of different member states, could invite the executive body of the [[European Union]] (EU), the [[European Commission]], to consider any proposal "on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Constitution." The precise mechanism had not been agreed upon. Critics underlined the weakness of this right of initiative, which did not ultimately entail any vote or referendum.
In any case, one can make a [[petition]] to the European Parliament <ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=49&pageRank=3&language=en Parliament : Petitions<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
=== France ===
A restricted, local, indirect initiative was introduced on 28 March 2003 in the [[French Constitution]] in the frame of the [[decentralization]] laws (article 72-1, ''référendum d'initiative locale''.) However, it is only the initiative to propose to the local assembly (''collectivité territoriale'') the inscription of a subject to the order of the day. The local assembly then takes the decision to submit, or not, the question to popular [[referendum]].
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==See also==
*[[Bond measure]]
*[[Direct democracy (history in the United States)]]
*[[Initiative and referendum]]
*[[List of politics-related topics]]
*[[List of Arizona ballot propositions]]
*[[List of California ballot propositions]]
*[[List of Oregon ballot measures]]
*[[List of Washington initiatives]]
*[[Ombudsman]]
*[[Recall election]]
*[[Referendum]]
==External links==
*[http://c2d.unige.ch The Research Centre on Direct Democracy]
*[http://vote.org Presidential Candidate & Senator Mike Gravel's National (ballot) Initiative for Democracy]
*[http://www.our-say.org OUR SAY - British campaign for Citizens' Initiatives]
*[http://www.iniref.org/ I&R Campaign for Direct Democracy in Britain]
*[http://www.iandrinstitute.org/ Initiative and Referendum Institute]
*[http://www.iri-europe.org IRI-Europe]
*[http://ni4d.us/ National Initiative for Democracy]
*[http://www.ncsl.org/programs/legman/elect/dbintro.htm NCSL Ballot Measures Database]
[[Category:Direct democracy]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Referendums|*]]
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