Direct democracy in a nutshell

Basic concepts

Below I explain the three basic instruments of direct democracy: the referendum, the citizens' veto, and the citizens' initiative.

In the following text, I present a simplified outline of direct democracy in Poland. This is, of course, a vision of Poland's future, based on the motto: one can always dream.

Referendum (popular vote)

A form of universal suffrage, closest to the ideal of direct democracy, in which all citizens eligible to vote (i.e., those with the right to vote) can participate. During a referendum, citizens of the entire state or part of it express their opinion on the issue being voted on. A referendum is a tool for monitoring the government, shaping the political system, and expressing the will of the people.

Citizens' veto

A political tool that empowers citizens to express grassroots, social opposition to solutions within the current legal system. In practice, this works by having a predetermined number of citizens eligible to vote object to a specific bill within a specified timeframe. The public then votes in a referendum, on a yes -or- no basis. The popular veto directly impacts the government, enabling grassroots, civic-level control of the decisions of governing bodies.

Citizens' initiative

A political tool that grants citizens and social and political groups the right to amend existing law. The practical application of this initiative varies significantly across countries. In Switzerland, it can involve a complete or partial amendment to the constitution or a change to a law, proposed by a predetermined number of eligible voters who, within a specified period, collect the required signatures. They can request amendments or repeal of existing legal acts, or even propose new solutions. An initiative can address both specific and general solutions. It's worth noting that any initiative that receives the required number of votes must lead to a referendum.