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In Italia only the referendum option is available to the citizens. That is to say, a referendum may be demanded to consider an existing law but not to create a new law. It is interesting to note that only 500 000 electors - about 1% of the total - are needed to call for a referendum. This number has not been increased since 1947 when the current Italian Constitution was adopted. The right to demand a referendum is contained in Article 75 of the Constitution of the Italian Republic. The relevant section reads: SECTION II The Drafting of Laws Art. 75 A popular referendum shall be held to abrogate, totally or partially, a law or an act having the force of law, when requested by five hundred thousand electors or five regional councils. A referendum is not permitted in the case of tax, budget, amnesty and pardon laws, in authorization or ratification of international treaties. All citizens eligible to vote for the Chamber of deputies have the right to participate in referendums. The proposal subjected to referendum is approved if the majority of those with voting rights have voted and a majority of votes validly cast has been reached. The law establishes the procedures for conducting a referendum.
It should be noted that for a referendum measure to pass there must be a voter turnout of at least 50%. Italians have not made a great use of this constitutional measure over the years. One spectacular exception was when The Church instituted a referendum to overturn divorce laws. The referendum failed.
To see a fuller version of the Constitution of the Italian Republic per favore vedere |
Italy