Citizens' initiative procedure

Citizens' initiative procedure

Purpose

A citizens' initiative lets members put a proposal of their own on the agenda and, if enough of them support it, to a binding vote, even when the governing bodies would rather not deal with it. The procedure balances access (low enough thresholds that ordinary members can use it) against the cost of votes and the risk that well-funded groups use it to bypass deliberation.

Article 1. Registration

1. A committee of at least seven eligible members registers an initiative with the registrar, giving the full text, a title of no more than 15 words and the names of the committee.
2. Within 30 days the registrar checks that the text concerns a single subject, is within the polity's powers and does not conflict with an entrenched right. A refusal states reasons and can be appealed to the independent review body within 15 days.
3. The title is checked for neutrality; the registrar may require a misleading title to be changed.

Article 2. Collecting support

1. Once registered, the committee has 12 months to collect signatures from eligible members equal to 3% of the electorate for an ordinary rule, or 5% for an amendment to the charter.
2. Signatures may be collected on paper or through the polity's verified identity service. Each member may sign once.
3. Payment per signature is prohibited.

Article 3. Vote

1. When the registrar certifies enough valid signatures, the initiative is put to a vote of all members within 12 months.
2. An ordinary rule passes by a majority of votes cast. A charter amendment needs the majority set by the amendment rule.
3. An adopted initiative has the same force as a rule adopted by the assembly.

Article 4. Response of the governing body

1. Within six months of certification the council debates the initiative and publishes its recommendation.
2. The council may propose a counter-proposal on the same subject. Members then vote on both texts and, on a third question, say which they prefer if both pass; the preferred text with the larger share on the third question takes effect.
3. The committee may withdraw the initiative in favour of the counter-proposal.

Article 5. Deliberation and information

1. For each initiative put to a vote, a panel of 20 to 24 members selected by stratified lot hears the committee, opponents and independent experts over at least four days and writes a statement of key findings and the strongest arguments on each side.
2. The statement is sent with the official voting information together with a fiscal note from the finance office estimating costs.
3. The panel does not decide or recommend; members decide.

Article 6. Money and transparency

1. Committees and campaigns publish donors above a threshold within 14 days of receipt and in a final report.
2. Spending by any campaign is capped at an amount set by the assembly before each cycle.
3. Initiatives with the same subject as one rejected in the previous three years need double the number of signatures.

Article 7. Online support platform

1. The polity runs a public platform where any member may post a proposal and others may support it with their verified identity. A proposal that gathers support from 1% of members within six months is automatically registered as an initiative under Article 1, and its supports count as signatures.
2. The platform's code is published and its counts can be audited by any committee.