Democracy - Definition, Swiss Democracy, Indirect Democracy

Democracy

Form of government, where a constitution guarantees basic personal and political rights, fair and free elections, and independent courts of law.

Monarchy	Government by a single ruler (king/queen, emperor)
Aristocracy	Government by noblemen (hereditary)
Oligarchy	Government by few persons
Theocracy	"Government by God" (in reality this means government by religious leaders)

Dictatorship

Government by people, that have seized power by force (often: military dictatorship)

Democracy - Modern Definition

• Guarantee of basic Human Rights to every individual person vis-à-vis the state and its authorities as well as vis-à-vis any social groups (especially religious institutions) and vis-à-vis other persons.
• Separation of Powers between the institutions of the state:
  Government [Executive Power],
  Parliament [Legislative Power] and
  Courts of Law [Judicative Power]
• Freedom of opinion, speech, press and massmedia
• Religious liberty
• General and equal right to vote (one person, one vote)
• Good Governance (focus on public interest and absence of corruption)

Switzerland's Democracy

In Switzerland, as in all democratic countries, citizens elect representatives to act on their behalf.

But Switzerland gives its citizens the chance to take a direct part in decision-making as well. Although direct democracy is by no means unique to Switzerland - Italy and many US states are among those who also give voters an important decision-making role - the Swiss system is probably the most extensive in the world.

Swiss citizens can both propose legislation of their own, or thwart legislation already approved by parliament.

The mandatory referendum 

A referendum is mandatory for all amendments to the federal Constitution and 

for membership to some international organizations (See § 140 of the 

Constitution). A popular vote must be held in such cases and a double majority 

is required. For adoption, a majority  of the popular vote, the votes cast 

throughout the country, and a majority  of the cantons, cantons in which the 

majority of voters adopted the proposal, is needed. In the case of a split 

cantonal vote (11.5 of 23 cantonal votes), the bill does not go trough.

 

The optional referendum 

Citizens can also challenge parliamentary decisions through optional 

referendums. Federal laws, generally binding decisions of the Confederation 

and some international treaties are subject to an optional referendum (See § 

141 of the Constitution). In these cases, a popular ballot is held if 50,000 

citizens request it within 100 days  after a decree’s publication. A double 

majority is not required for an optional referendum. In other words, only a 

majority of the people (not a cantonal majority) is needed. Optional 

Referendums were introduced in 1874.

 

The citizen's initiative 

An  initiative  allows  citizens  to  seek  a  decision  on  an  amendment  they  want  to 

add to the federal Constitution. A  popular vote takes place if 100,000 

signatures are collected in favor of the initiative within the legal timeframe of 

18 months (See § 138 – 139b of the Constitution). For adoption of the 

initiative again a double majority is required, i.e. a majority of the popular vote 

(the votes cast throughout the country) and a majority of the cantons (cantons 

in which the majority of voters adopted the proposal) is needed.