What can be brought to a referendum?

Constitutionof the Republic of Maldives

(Adopted in 2008, replacing and repealing the Constitution of 1998)

http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/Documents/ConstitutionOfMaldives.pdf

Article 262. (Mandatory referendum)

(a)The Bill amending the Constitution passed by the People’s Majlis shall comeinto force upon obtaining the written assent of the President.

(b) Despite the provisions of article (a) above,the President shall give written assent to any amendments made by the People’sMajlis to the following provisions of this Constitution only after a publicreferendum decides so by a majority of the votes cast.

1.Any of the provisions contained in Chapter II (The Maldivian Charter of Rightsand

Freedoms)of this Constitution;

2.Article 79(a) (Term of Majlis);

3.Article 107 (Term of office), and Article 108 (Presidential election);

wherethe amendment does not receive a majority approval in the public referendum, itshall be deemed to have been defeated.

Article 70. (Optional referendum)

(b)The law making powers of the People’s Majlis pursuant to article (a), includesthe following powers:

6.the holding of public referendums on issues of public importance;

Article115. (Optional referendum)

Inaddition to the duties and powers otherwise expressly conferred on thePresident by this Constitution and the law, the President is entrusted pursuantto this Constitution with carrying out the duties specified herein and shallhave the following powers to do so:

(p) to hold public referendums on issues ofnational importance

Article 264.(Optional referendum)

(b) of the Constitution: If the President doesnot assent to the Bill amending the Constitution passed by the People’s Majlisand so informs the People’s Majlis, the People’s Majlis may within a perioddetermined by the People’s Majlis call for a public referendum to vote on theadoption or rejection of the Bill.

Pertainingspecific constitutional amendments, as follows, referendum is mandatory priorto the written assent of the President.

-   Any of theprovisions contained in Chapter II (The Maldivian Charter of Rights andFreedoms) of this Constitution.

-  Article 79(a)(Term of Majlis).

-  Article 107 (Termof office), and Article 108 (Presidential election)

Article 70 providesfor optional referendum on issues of public importance by the People’s Majlis.

Article 115provides optional referendum on issues of national importance by the President.

Article 264provides for optional referendum by the People’s Majlis on the adoption orrejection of bill amending the constitution, in the event where it is rejectedby the President.