Direct Legislation by the Citizenship through the Initiative and Referendum

"Direct Legislation by the Citizenship through the Initiative and Referendum" by J.W. Sullivan is a sociological treatise written in the late 19th century. This work examines the principles and practices of direct democracy, particularly in Switzerland, contrasting it with representative government systems. It discusses how direct legislation allows for citizens to enact laws and influence governance, highlighting the Initiative and Referendum as vital mechanisms for democratic participation. The opening of the book introduces its purpose, which is to amplify the ideas expressed in Sullivan's previous work, focusing on the practicalities of direct participation in governance. Sullivan emphasizes the significant differences between direct democracy, where citizens have the power to make and enact laws themselves, and a representative government that can lead to oligarchic control by politicians and elites. He draws on experiences in Switzerland, where the Initiative and Referendum have gained traction, illustrating how these methods empower citizens and provide a model for potential democratic reforms in other nations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Sullivan, J. W. (James William), 1848-
Title Direct Legislation by the Citizenship through the Initiative and Referendum
Credits Produced by Irma Špehar, Cori Samuel and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net
Reading Level Reading ease score: 48.5 (College-level). Difficult to read.
Language English
LoC Class JF: Political science: Political institutions and public administration
Subject Referendum
Category Text
eBook-No. 17751
Release Date
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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