Direct Democracy at the local level: a comparison of eight municipalities from four countries around Lake Constance (Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland)

2011 ◽  
pp. 157-169
Author(s):  
Wilfried Marxer ◽  
Zoltán Tibor Pállinger
Keyword(s):  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Lake Constance

Impact of Elected Women Representatives of Panchayati Raj in Physical and Financial and Business Assets Development of Rural Women: A Study among the Rural Women’s of Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu[1]

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalaichelvi Sivaraman ◽  
Rengasamy Stalin
Keyword(s):  
Rural Women ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Panchayati Raj

This research paper is the part of Research Project entitled “Impact of Elected Women Representatives in the Life and Livelihood of the Women in Rural Areas: With Special Reference to Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu” funded by University of Madras under UGC-UPE Scheme.The 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution of India were made by the government to strengthen the position of women and to create a local-level legal foundation for direct democracy for women in both rural and urban areas. The representation for women in local bodies through reservation policies amendment in Constitution of India has stimulated the political participation of women in rural areas. However, when it’s comes to the argument of whether the women reservation in Panchayati Raj helps or benefits to the life and livelihood development of women as a group? The answer is hypothetical because the studies related to the impact of women representatives of Panchayati Raj in the life and livelihood development of women was very less. Therefore, to fill the gap in existing literature, the present study was conducted among the rural women of Tiruvannamalai district to assess the impact of elected women representatives in the physical and financial and business development of the women in rural areas. The findings revealed that during the last five years because of the women representation in their village Panjayati Raj, the Physical Asset of the rural women were increased or developed moderately (55.8%) and Highly (23.4%) and the Financial and Business Asset of the rural women were increased or developed moderately (60.4%) and Highly (18.7%).

8. Referendums

UK Politics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 171-191
Author(s):  
Andrew Blick
Keyword(s):  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Public ◽  
Key Features ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Theoretical Considerations ◽  
Political Decisions

This chapter starts with a definition of the term ‘referendum’. A referendum is a means of involving the public in political decisions via voting on specific issues such as leaving the European Union. The chapter focuses on the use of referendums at the local level. It sets out the key features of a referendum. Who is allowed to vote in referendums? What sort of questions are put to voters? Under want circumstances should a referendum take place on specific issues? What are the risks associated with holding a referendum? The chapter also looks at regulations surrounding referendums in the UK. The theoretical considerations that the chapter examines are the fact that a referendum subject tends to be controversial, the relationship between referendums and direct democracy and the implications of the results.

Swedish Local and Regional Government in a European Context

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Lidström
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Welfare System ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Welfare Policies ◽  
National Welfare ◽  
Welfare Model

Although Swedish local government shares a set of traits that are common to all other European local government systems, it stands out, in many respects, as unique. The particular combination of local responsibility for costly tax-financed national welfare policies, strong and mainly nationally organized political parties at local level, consistent decision-making collectivism, and a type of representative democracy that leaves little room for means of direct democracy make Sweden different. These features are intertwined, reflecting core values of the Scandinavian welfare model. Although many of them have been challenged during recent decades, popular support for the welfare system remains strong.

Turns of Direct Democracy at the Local Level in Latvia

2022 ◽  
pp. 91-114
Author(s):  
Lilita Seimuskane ◽  
Maris Pukis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Government ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Study Participation ◽  
The Government

The chapter provides analysis of obstacles for the introduction of direct citizen participation in the decision-making process at the local self-governments in Latvia, as well as intents of national government to widen participative democracy by formalization of consultation mechanisms. Within the scope of this study, participation is seen as an interaction form of relationship between citizens and a local government. The highest form, according to Arnstein's gradation theory of a ladder of citizen participation, refers to the participation degree called partnership, delegated power, and is described by Teorell as a citizen voice in the government. Situation and perspective of local government referendums are analysed. Consultation is implemented at the level by involving the residents in the work of local government commissions and implementing public deliberations. Administrative territorial reform, performed by 2021 elections, will decrease the number of local governments to a third of their current level.

Direct democracy in Slovenia – poor practice at the local level

2011 ◽  
pp. 245-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Nežmah
Keyword(s):  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Poor Practice

scholarly journals THE FORMS OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CITIZEN’S PARTICIPATION IN ITS OPERATION: THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE

2016 ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Александр Ларичев ◽  
Aleksandr Larichev
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Electronic Voting ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Canadian Experience ◽  
The Law ◽  
Citizen’S Participation ◽  
Trend Of Development

This article examines state and prospects of direct democracy forms’ development in local government and citizen’s participation in its operation in Canada. The regulation of appropriate forms is present both in the law of the provinces and municipalities. It is stated that these forms show a positive trend of development, however, there are a number of problems in this sphere, associated specifically with the lack of appropriate system’s development of legal guarantees and uncertainty of the constitutional and legal status of the local government as an institution. At the same time, certain experience in implementation of forms of direct democracy at the local level (in particular, organization of electronic voting in elections) deserves attention and further study.

scholarly journals Local Legislative Process in Russia: Perspectives and Barriers

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 83-110
Author(s):  
Victoria Mamontova ◽  
Elena Gladun
Keyword(s):  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Legislative Process ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Context Analysis ◽  
Initiative Process ◽  
Barriers And Challenges ◽  
Law Making

The legislative process is an important tool of direct democracy for creating checks and balances on public authority. Making local laws is an essential function of the local government that is linked to direct communication between public officials and citizens. This paper sets out to evaluate the opportunities, constraints and challenges in the practices of local direct democracy in Russian municipalities, and to describe the frameworks and capacities that municipal authorities provide for citizens. The paper analyzes the political and legal circumstances for law-making initiatives at the local level and examines citizens’ activities in the local legislative process. The research question is whether citizens have the capacity and opportunity to participate in the local legislative process and to what extent barriers and challenges prevent them from doing so. To answer the research question the authors use methods of context analysis to study Russian legislation and municipal legal documents, a case study of several Russian municipalities and a survey with representatives of local communities in Tyumen, a Russian mid-sized city located in Western Siberia. The results of the study show a reluctance on the part of local residents to engage in the various aspects of direct democracy and a lack of the necessary skills, knowledge and willingness to participate in the initiative process. The results further show that the initiative process is frequently not well planned and lacks clear objectives, requirements and guidelines. The study concludes that seminars and professional training as well as roundtable workshops are effective ways to support local law-making initiatives. One promising step towards modernizing initiatives would be to organize them in e-forms. Many citizens demonstrate their ability to use electronic options that can expand the possibilities for their participation in the local legislative process.

Size and Direct Democracy at the Local Level: The Case of Switzerland

10.1068/c0226 ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 813-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Ladner
Keyword(s):  
Size Effect ◽  
Size Effects ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level

After a brief look the most important characteristics of Swiss municipalities, this paper describes the municipalities' organization according to the principles of direct democracy and means of decisionmaking. Drawing on empirical findings, it then examines size effects more closely. Whether legislative decisions are taken in a direct democratic assembly or in a representative parliament largely depends on the size of a municipality: smaller municipalities have an assembly, larger ones a parliament. By contrast, direct democratic instruments such as initiatives and referendums are not necessarily more widespread in larger municipalities. The use of initiatives and referendums is higher in larger municipalities, but assembly attendance and election turnout clearly decreases with increasing municipal size. The strength of the size effect varies considerably depending on the different variables of direct democracy under scrutiny.

Expanding the comparison: the water referendum in Italy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatella della Porta ◽  
Francis O’Connor ◽  
Martín Portos ◽  
Anna Subirats Ribas
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
Single Issue ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Italian Case ◽  
Repertoire Of Contention ◽  
Resource Mobilisation

This chapter examines the 2011 water referendum in Italy, focusing on the appropriation of opportunities, resource mobilisation, and the framing of the campaign by social movements and civil society organisations. It shows that some of the characteristics of the referendums from below that were observed in Scotland and Catalonia also fit the Italian case. In terms of appropriation of opportunities, the referendum against the privatisation of water supply was far from a single-issue campaign, instead emerging from long-lasting struggles that made use of a multiple and varied repertoire of contention, including institutional and unconventional forms of action. The chapter also discusses how the closing down of opportunities at the national level and the availability of political allies at the local level prompted the use of forms of direct democracy. Finally, it demonstrates how the provision of water became a symbol of resistance to neoliberalism and austerity policies in Italy.

scholarly journals Current problems of decentralization of public power in Ukraine: the information and communication aspects

2021 ◽  
pp. 227-235
Author(s):  
Tetiana Kostetska
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Information Policy ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Modern Mass

The topical issues of implementation of the new (second) stage of reforming local self-government and territorial organization of power are covered, among the main tasks of which is a clear delineation of powers and functions of control of government different levels, the development of forms of local direct democracy. The problematic issues, the solution of which will determine the achievement of the planned results of the implementation of decentralization and public administration reform, are indicated. In particular, this is the task of creating an effective, transparent, open and public administration structure using the latest information and communication technologies (e-government). The effectiveness of the researched processes depends on the strategy of the national information policy, its implementation on the ground, the implementation of information activities of local governments. The creation of an open information environment at the municipal level is the key issue. The norms of the current legislation as a legal basis for the information policy at the local level implementation are analyzed. Its shortcomings and ways to improve are designated. The communicative relations of public authorities, their interaction with individual institutions of civil society in order to expand the direct participation of citizens in addressing issues of both state and local importance are considered. The role and significance of modern mass media in the researched processes are covered separately. Emphasis is placed on the expediency of improving, modernizing the information activities of local governments, including in relations with the media.

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