Legal basis for direct democracy at the national level

Optional referendum:

-          Constitution, Art. 3a(2), 90, 168-170

-          Constitutional Act Amending Articles 90, 97, and 99 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia

-          Law on Referendum and Popular Initiative, Art. 26

Agenda Initiative:

-          Constitution, Art. 88, 168

The Law on Referendum and Popular Initiative provides administrative requirements for the above.

The Law on Election and Referendum Campaigns provides administrative requirements for optional referenda.

Article 90 of the Constitution, which provides for optional legislative referendums, was significantly amended in May 2013. While the Law on Referendum and Popular Initiative has not yet been revised accordingly, the Constitutional Act which amended Article 90 stipulates this revision must take place within a year. Until the revision takes place, the amended text in the Constitutional Act is the only legal text that provides the basis for legislative referendums.

The information on this database for Slovenia assumes that administrative requirements in the Law on Referendum and Popular Initiatives and Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly remain unaffected by the May 2013 amendment, unless they explicitly contradict the provisions of theConstitutional Act which amended Art. 90 of the constitution.

For more information on the recent amendment:

http://www.sloveniatimes.com/parliament-backs-changes-to-referendum-legislation

http://www.sloveniatimes.com/parliament-tightens-referendum-rules-with-constitutional-amendment

CONSTITUTION OF THEREPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

(Adopted 1991; last amended May 2013)

http://www.us-rs.si/en/about-the-court/legal-basis/constitution/

I. GeneralProvisions

Article 3a.

(1)Pursuant to a treaty ratified by the National Assembly by a two-thirds majorityvote of all deputies, Slovenia may transfer the exercise of part of itssovereign rights to international organisations which are based on respect forhuman rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the principles of the ruleof law and may enter into a defensive alliance with states which are based onrespect for these values.

(2) Before ratifying a treaty referred to inthe preceding paragraph, the National Assembly may call a referendum. Aproposal shall pass at the referendum if a majority of voters who have castvalid votes vote in favour of such. The National Assembly is bound by theresult of such referendum. If such referendum has been held, a referendumregarding the law on the ratification of the treaty concerned may not becalled. 

IV. Organisation ofthe State; a) The National Assembly

Art. 88:Legislative Initiative

Laws may beproposed by the Government or by any deputy. Laws may also be proposed by atleast five thousand voters.

Art.90:Legislative Referendum

(1) The National Assembly calls a referendum on the entryinto force of a law that it has adopted if so required by at least fortythousand voters.

(2) It isinadmissible to call a referendum:

?        on laws on urgentmeasures for ensuring the defence of the state, security, or the elimination ofthe consequences of natural disasters;

?        on laws on taxes,customs duties, and other compulsory charges, and on laws adopted for theimplementation of the state budget;

?        on laws on theratification of treaties;

?        on laws eliminatingan unconstitutionality in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms orany other unconstitutionality.

(3) Theright to vote in a referendum is held by all citizens who are eligible to votein elections.

A law isrejected in a referendum if a majority of voters who have cast valid votes voteagainst the law, under the condition that at least one fifth of all qualifiedvoters have cast votes against the law.

(4) A law is rejected in a referendumif a majority of voters who have cast valid votes vote against the law, underthe condition that at least one fifth of all qualified voters have cast votesagainst the law.

(5) Referendums are regulated by a law passed in theNational Assembly by a two-thirds majority vote of deputies present.

IX. Procedure forAmending the Constitution

Art. 168: Proposal to Initiate the Procedure

(1) A proposal toinitiate the procedure for amending the Constitution may be made by twentydeputies of the National Assembly, the Government or at least thirty thousandvoters.

(2) Such proposal is decided upon by the National Assembly by atwo-thirds majority vote of deputies present.

Art. 169: Acts Amending the Constitution

The NationalAssembly adopts acts amending the Constitution by a two-thirds majority vote ofall deputies.

Art.170:Confirmation of ConstitutionalAmendments by Referendum

(1) TheNational Assembly must submit a proposed constitutional amendment to voters foradoption in a referendum, ifso required by at least thirty deputies.

(2) Aconstitutional amendment is adopted in a referendum if a majority of thosevoting voted in favour of the same, provided that a majority of all votersparticipated in the referendum.

Art.171: Promulgation of Constitutional Amendments

Constitutionalamendments enter into force upon their promulgation in the National Assembly.

CONSTITUTIONAL ACT AMENDINGARTICLES 90, 97, AND 99 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

(Adopted May 2013)

http://www.uradni-list.si/1/objava.jsp?urlid=201347&stevilka=1779

II. Zakon o referendumu in o ljudskiiniciativi (Uradni list RS, št. 26/07 – uradno prečiščeno besedilo) se uskladis 1. členom tega ustavnega zakona v enem letu po njegovi uveljavitvi.

Do uskladitve Zakona oreferendumu in o ljudski iniciativi se določbe 1. člena tega ustavnega zakonauporabljajo ob smiselni uporabi Zakona o referendumu in o ljudski iniciativineposredno. Do uskladitve Zakona o referendumu in o ljudski iniciativi se 21.člen Zakona o referendumu in o ljudski iniciativi smiselno uporablja tako, daustavno sodišče odloči v sporu med predlagateljem referenduma in državnimzborom, ki zavrne razpis referenduma o zakonu.

Določbe 1. člena tega ustavnegazakona se ne uporabljajo za pobude iz 11. in zahteve iz 12. člena Zakona oreferendumu in o ljudski iniciativi, ki so bile vložene pred uveljavitvijo tegaustavnega zakona.

RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

(Adopted 2002; last amended 2010)

http://www.dz-rs.si/wps/portal/en/Home/ODrzavnemZboru/PristojnostiInFunkcije/RulesoftheProcedureText

IV. Acts and Procedures

1. Acts of the National Assembly

Art. 108

(1) By ordinances,the National Assembly proclaims constitutional acts amending the Constitution,calls referendums, orders parliamentary inquiries, establishes publicinstitutes and public enterprises in accordance with the law, and regulates themanner of work and the relations within the National Assembly.