Legal provisions for direct democracy at the local level
Norway
Answer
- Optional referendum
- Citizens' initiative
Source
Jos Verhulst & Arjen Nijeboer
Direct Democracy: Facts and Arguments about theIntroduction of Initiative and Referendum. Democracy International, Brussels. 2007
European Commission for Democracy ThroughLaw, Referendums in Europe- an Analysis of the Legal Rules in EuropeanStates (Venice Commission 2005)
Comment
In Norway, there is an extensive tradition of plebiscites at municipal level, where about 500 plebiscites have taken place since 1972. In 2003, the parliament introduced the citizens’ initiative referendum at the municipal level. This enables 300 citizens to put a specific subject to a popular vote.
