1. History, culture, practise and design of Direct Democracy in Switzerland a short introduction from Andreas Gross (MP/Pol.Scientist/ADD) www.andigross.ch IRI Direct Democracy Study Trip to Europe St-Ursanne (Jura-Switzerland) Sept 25 2004

2. Direct Democracy (DD) in Switzerland (and the U.S.A.) was supported by history  There was never a nobel feudal regime  You had a tradition and culture of decentralisation of power and selfruling  You had experiences in managing diversity  You had and still have a multitude of cultural,religious, linguistic and economic diversity

3. Direct Democracy (DD) in Switzerland (+ U.S.A.) was a oppositional achievement: By the people for the people  The liberal founders of modern Switzerland (1848) were elitist  They created a parlament.democracy by which‘s parliament many people did not feel to be represented  Thats why they asked for constitutional reforms which give them „the last word“

4. Modern Direct Democracy (DD) was not made in Switzerland – it was only best practised and developed in CH  You had early „assembly-selfruling“ in some swiss cantons and some New England States in the 17.century  Modern referendum is a innovation of the Frech Revolution (1793)  The citizens initiatives is a product of revolutionaries of France and Germany of 1848

5. 1869 in Zuerich:A weak DD-Instrument enabled the people to realise a democratic revolution  The gov tried to undermine the opposition movement by implementing the „Initiative for the total revision of the Constitution“ (1865)  2 years later: In 10 days 20‘000 sign. were gathered and a peacefull revolution started

6. The 3 cornerstones of a modern Direct Democracy  Voting at the ballot-box or by mail, not in a assembly  The secrecy of the vote has to be respected  A minority of the citizens say, when all the citizens have to vote – not a president or a parliament („plebiscitarian“ rule)

7. Direct Democracy is a set of participatorial citizen rights: B. Federal level (Zuerich 2005) 1,2,3,4, + 5.Legislative popular initiative 6.Constructive citizens referendum 7.Obligatorial finance referendum 8.Individual initiative 9.The right of the Parliament for counter-proposals, optional vote

8. Direct Democracy is a set of participatorial citizen rights: A. Cantonal level 1.Constitutional Referendum 2.Optional legislative Referendum 3.Constitutional popular Initiative 4.Referendum against threaties 5.„General“ Initiative: Proposition to the Parliament