Direkte Demokratie in der Schweiz – Landesbericht 2014 (Direct Democracy in Switzerland – Country Report 2014)

Abstract

German Abstract: Dieser Landesbericht schildert die Entwicklung der schweizerischen direkten Demokratie im Berichtszeitraum. Er enthält einen Überblick über die hängigen Verfahren auf Bundesebene. Ausserdem werden Schwerpunkte der Entwicklung in Bund, Kantonen und Gemeinden behandelt.

English Abstract: This country report focuses on the discussion about the increasing frequency and success rate of public initiatives in Switzerland. It finds that the chance of success has significantly increased during the past 10 years. Most of this effect is due to the use of the Internet for direct democratic instruments. Regarding specific initiatives, the report looks into the practice of correcting results by repeated voting. Finally, the variations in the participation rate in direct democracy are quite striking. Due to the late introduction of women's voting rights on the federal level (1971), there still is a "lost generation" of women who never got used to democratic participation.

Note: Downloadable document is in German.

Keywords: Frequency & Success Rate of Public Initiatives, Correction-Initiative, Sovereignty-Initiative, Participation Rate According to Age & Gender, Paedophile-Initiative, Fighter-Jet-Referendum, Voting Rights for Foreigners