Volksentscheide

Volksentscheide, literally “people’s decisions,” are a form of direct democracy in which eligible citizens vote directly on a political question, such as a proposed law or constitutional amendment. They can be binding or advisory, depending on the legal framework of the country or region. Instruments commonly associated with Volksentscheide include referendums and popular initiatives.

Referendum and Volksinitiative are described in German-speaking contexts as follows: a referendum is typically triggered when the parliament proposes a measure or when citizens collect signatures to demand a vote. A popular initiative allows citizens to propose constitutional changes or new laws, usually requiring a petition threshold to trigger a vote, after which the proposal is put to the electorate.

The Swiss system is the most developed example of Volksentscheide. At the federal level, there are mandatory referendums for constitutional amendments and certain international treaties (requiring a double majority of the popular vote and the cantons), optional referendums on ordinary laws (requiring 50,000 signatures within 100 days), and popular initiatives to propose constitutional changes (requiring 100,000 signatures within 18 months, with a double majority on acceptance). Cantons and municipalities also run their own referendums and initiatives with varying rules.

Other German-speaking countries use Volksentscheide more sparingly. In Germany, several Länder provide mechanisms for binding referendums on state laws or constitutional amendments after signature thresholds, but nationwide referendums are not standard. Austria offers limited or local forms of direct-democracy instruments, with no nationwide binding referendum for regular legislation; mechanisms exist mainly at regional or municipal levels.

See also: direct democracy, referendum, initiative.