Legal provisions for direct democracy at the local level

Constitution ofVenezuela (1999)

http://venezuelanalysis.com/constitution/

(Optional Referendum)

Article 71: Matters of specialnational transcendence may be referred to a consultative referendum, on theinitiative of the President of the Republic, taken at a meeting of the Cabinet;by resolution of the National Assembly, passed by a majority vote; or at therequest of a number of voters constituting at least 10% of all votersregistered on the national, civil and electoral registry.

Matters ofspecial state, municipal and parish transcendence may also be referred to aconsultative referendum. The initiative shall be taken by the Parish Board, theMunicipal Council and to the Legislative Council, by the vote of two third ofits members; by the Mayor and the Governor or by a number of votersconstituting at least 10% of the total number of voters registered in thepertinent circumscription.

(Recall)

Article 72: All magistrates andother offices filled by popular vote are subject to revocation.

Once half ofthe term of office to which an official has been elected has elapsed, a numberof voters constituting at least 20% of the voters registered in the pertinentcircumscription may extend a petition for the calling of a referendum to revokesuch official's mandate.

When anumber of voters equal to or greater than the number of those who elected theofficial vote in favor of revocation, provided that a number of voters equal toor greater than 25% of the total number of registered voters* have voted in therevocation election, the official's mandate shall be deemed revoked, andimmediate action shall be taken to fill the permanent vacancy in accordancewith the provided for in this Constitution and by law.

The revocation of the mandate for the collegiatebodies shall be performed in accordance with the law. During the term to whichthe official was elected, only one petition to recall may be filed.