The Legal Limits of Direct Democracy

The Legal Limits of Direct Democracy
Author: Moeckli, Daniel
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2021-07-31
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1800372809

With the rise of direct-democratic instruments, the relationship between popular sovereignty and the rule of law is set to become one of the defining political issues of our time. This important and timely book provides an in-depth analysis of the limits imposed on referendums and citizens’ initiatives, as well as of systems of reviewing compliance with these limits, in 11 European states.

Let the People Rule

Let the People Rule
Author: John G. Matsusaka
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2020-02-25
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0691199728

How referendums can diffuse populist tensions by putting power back into the hands of the people Propelled by the belief that government has slipped out of the hands of ordinary citizens, a surging wave of populism is destabilizing democracies around the world. As John Matsusaka reveals in Let the People Rule, this belief is based in fact. Over the past century, while democratic governments have become more efficient, they have also become more disconnected from the people they purport to represent. The solution Matsusaka advances is familiar but surprisingly underused: direct democracy, in the form of referendums. While this might seem like a dangerous idea post-Brexit, there is a great deal of evidence that, with careful design and thoughtful implementation, referendums can help bridge the growing gulf between the government and the people. Drawing on examples from around the world, Matsusaka shows how direct democracy can bring policies back in line with the will of the people (and provide other benefits, like curbing corruption). Taking lessons from failed processes like Brexit, he also describes what issues are best suited to referendums and how they should be designed, and he tackles questions that have long vexed direct democracy: can voters be trusted to choose reasonable policies, and can minority rights survive majority decisions? The result is one of the most comprehensive examinations of direct democracy to date—coupled with concrete, nonpartisan proposals for how countries can make the most of the powerful tools that referendums offer. With a crisis of representation hobbling democracies across the globe, Let the People Rule offers important new ideas about the crucial role the referendum can play in the future of government.

Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy

Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy
Author: David Altman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 283
Release: 2019
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1108496636

Offers a comparative study of the origins, performance, and reform of contemporary mechanisms of direct democracy.

Direct Democracy Practices at the Local Level

Direct Democracy Practices at the Local Level
Author: Premat, Christophe Emmanuel
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 325
Release: 2022-02-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1799873064

Direct democracy, or pure democracy, is a concept spreading throughout the world, now adopted by nearly 30 countries on the national level. While the concept is not new, it is important to investigate the current benefits or hinderances of direct democracy related to local governments so that they may be implemented further. Direct Democracy Practices at the Local Level deepens the knowledge of direct democracy in political science. This book explores how local governments utilize these instruments in international governments and analyzes a series of popular initiatives and local referenda to how successful these initiatives are. Covering topics such as religious rights, street committees, and climate change, this book is essential for political science students and professors, policymakers, faculty, local governments, academicians, and researchers in political science with an interest in direct democracy procedures in representative systems.

American Government 3e

American Government 3e
Author: Glen Krutz
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-05-12
Genre:
ISBN: 9781738998470

Black & white print. American Government 3e aligns with the topics and objectives of many government courses. Faculty involved in the project have endeavored to make government workings, issues, debates, and impacts meaningful and memorable to students while maintaining the conceptual coverage and rigor inherent in the subject. With this objective in mind, the content of this textbook has been developed and arranged to provide a logical progression from the fundamental principles of institutional design at the founding, to avenues of political participation, to thorough coverage of the political structures that constitute American government. The book builds upon what students have already learned and emphasizes connections between topics as well as between theory and applications. The goal of each section is to enable students not just to recognize concepts, but to work with them in ways that will be useful in later courses, future careers, and as engaged citizens. In order to help students understand the ways that government, society, and individuals interconnect, the revision includes more examples and details regarding the lived experiences of diverse groups and communities within the United States. The authors and reviewers sought to strike a balance between confronting the negative and harmful elements of American government, history, and current events, while demonstrating progress in overcoming them. In doing so, the approach seeks to provide instructors with ample opportunities to open discussions, extend and update concepts, and drive deeper engagement.

The Law of Direct Democracy

The Law of Direct Democracy
Author: Henry S. Noyes
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014
Genre: Recall
ISBN: 9781611632767

To access the 2014-15 supplement, click here. The Law Of Direct Democracy is the first casebook on direct democracy. This book uses state and federal judicial opinions, the text of ballot initiatives, statutes and constitutional provisions to compare and contrast the various state laws that govern the ballot initiative, the referendum and the recall. This book also contemplates the role of interest groups, voters, courts and elected officials and examines their ability to utilize, influence and limit the initiative process. It provides students and instructors both the information they need to learn the law of direct democracy and the tools to pursue further inquiry on discrete topics of interest. "Henry Noyes' comprehensive and detailed tome The Law of Direct Democracy is a thorough and meticulous study of all the practical issues pertaining to direct democracy. Limited to the US--where roughly half of the states have provisions for direct democracy--Noyes cites and analyses the major court cases and provides extracts to the major documents debating and challenging direct democracy, such as the Federalist Papers. The book gives a sober--and realistic--overview of the pros and cons of having a system that allows the voters to vote directly on laws. This book is not a polemic and nor does it take sides. It merely presents the facts and the 'law of direct democracy'. This is a valuable book and the sections on the 'recall' especially will provide interesting examples--and ammunition--for those who claim that the recall would lead to political chaos. This book may not become a run-away bestseller, but it is a valuable volume for those who have a scholarly interest in referendums." -- Matt Qvortrup, Political Studies Review "The current volume gathers together many of the 'hot topics' with respect to direct democracy in the United States. It is an eye-opening account (truncated for space reasons) of all the court cases that make up case law for direct democracy.... For those wanting to pursue a political voice that grows louder each year, this volume provides a useful filter to those issues. The summaries of the cases are easy to read and informative..." -- Mark Y. Herring, American Reference Books Annual 2015 and ARBAonline "The law relating to initiatives and referendums, though of great importance, is seldom taught in law schools and seldom studied by lawyers. With his excellent casebook on direct democracy, Professor Noyes has filled an important need." -- Dr. Joseph R. Grodin, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Law, UC Hastings College of the Law; Former Associate Justice, California Supreme Court

Democratic Innovations

Democratic Innovations
Author: Graham Smith
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2009-07-02
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0521514770

This book examines democratic innovations from around the world, drawing lessons for the future development of both democratic theory and practice.

Direct Democracy

Direct Democracy
Author: Thomas E. Cronin
Publisher: iUniverse
Total Pages: 308
Release: 1999
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

Initiative-centered Politics

Initiative-centered Politics
Author: David McCuan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2005
Genre: Direct democracy
ISBN:

Do we have a system of "too much democracy?" Has the rise of ballot measures in the United States somehow assaulted the practice of democracy across the nation? In this volume, contributors take stock of how the initiative process has fared thus far, while positing future directions for direct legislation. The rise of direct democracy across states and localities has shown how the initiative process is essential to public policy throughout the country. This volume brings together a diverse group of scholars presenting direct democracy research across high-use and low-use states and across issue dimensions at all levels of government. It will be invaluable for all who are interested in direct democracy. "A timely volume, this book addresses a movement that has greatly changed American politics... Summing up: Recommended." -- CHOICE Magazine

A Comparative Study of Referendums

A Comparative Study of Referendums
Author: Mads Qvortrup
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2005-10-07
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9780719071812

Combining an account of the political history and philosophy of the referendum, with a thorough assessment of the practical experiences with referendums in western democracies, this book has established itself as the unrivalled market-leader in the field. Fully revised and with new chapters on campaign spending and the administration of referendums, the second edition of this book provides a thorough overview of the theory and practice of referendums.