The European Citizens' Initiative

The European Citizens' Initiative PDF Author: Johannes W. Pichler
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789400000629
Category : Democracy
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
With the European Citizens' Initiative (Article 11.4. in the new Lisbon Treaty of the European Union), the region enters new territory for modern democracy. For the first time, the principle of representative democracy, based on both indirect and direct democracy, will become a political practice on the transnational level. However, such a historic step, which is closely watched by observers from across the globe, raises many questions regarding the future provisions (implementation and regulation), the opportunities (the attitude by EU institutions and citizens groups alike), and the infrastructure (the support and assistance arrangements). This book offers an entry point into the new and exciting democratic territory of the European Citizens' Initiative, and it outlines the cornerstones and key features of both the procedure to be adapted by the EU in 2010 and the future use of the new tool from 2011.

Innovative Citizen Participation and New Democratic Institutions Catching the Deliberative Wave

Innovative Citizen Participation and New Democratic Institutions Catching the Deliberative Wave PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264725903
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 198

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Book Description
Public authorities from all levels of government increasingly turn to Citizens' Assemblies, Juries, Panels and other representative deliberative processes to tackle complex policy problems ranging from climate change to infrastructure investment decisions. They convene groups of people representing a wide cross-section of society for at least one full day – and often much longer – to learn, deliberate, and develop collective recommendations that consider the complexities and compromises required for solving multifaceted public issues.

The European Citizens' Initiative

The European Citizens' Initiative PDF Author: Johannes W. Pichler
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789400000629
Category : Democracy
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
With the European Citizens' Initiative (Article 11.4. in the new Lisbon Treaty of the European Union), the region enters new territory for modern democracy. For the first time, the principle of representative democracy, based on both indirect and direct democracy, will become a political practice on the transnational level. However, such a historic step, which is closely watched by observers from across the globe, raises many questions regarding the future provisions (implementation and regulation), the opportunities (the attitude by EU institutions and citizens groups alike), and the infrastructure (the support and assistance arrangements). This book offers an entry point into the new and exciting democratic territory of the European Citizens' Initiative, and it outlines the cornerstones and key features of both the procedure to be adapted by the EU in 2010 and the future use of the new tool from 2011.

Voting from Abroad

Voting from Abroad PDF Author: Andrew Ellis
Publisher: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)
ISBN: 9185391662
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 297

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Book Description
The constitutions of many countries guarantee the right to vote for all citizens. However, in reality, voters who are outside their home country when elections take place are often disenfranchised because of a lack of procedures enabling them to exercise that right. Voting from Abroad: The International IDEA Handbook examines the theoretical and practical issues surrounding external voting. It provides an overview of external voting provisions in 115 countries and territories around the world, including a map illustrating the regional spread.

Citizens' Initiatives in Europe

Citizens' Initiatives in Europe PDF Author: M. Setälä
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 0230369901
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 359

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Book Description
An exploration and analysis of the regulation and practices of citizens' initiatives in eleven European democracies and the EU. The contributors to this volume shed light on how citizens' initiatives influence patterns of political agenda-setting in representative democracies and how they can contribute to participatory democracy.

Direct Democracy and Minorities

Direct Democracy and Minorities PDF Author: Wilfried Marxer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3531943049
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 247

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Book Description
Modern direct democracy has become an essential element of political life in many countries in Europe and worldwide. The initiative and referendum process offers extra channels for citizen participation and thus represents an important supplementary institution in modern democracies. This third volume of the series Direct Democracy in Modern Europe focuses on direct-democratic decisions on minority affairs. The main question is whether direct democracy tends towards a domination of the majority over a minority, producing new conflicts, or whether, how, and under what conditions it helps to solve problems in complex societies and leads to lasting solutions to political disputes. This volume includes articles by specialist researchers on - historical experiences of direct-democratic decisions on territorial conflicts; - theoretical considerations on direct democracy and minorities; - case studies on popular votes concerning minority issues; - several country case studies; - the role of the media in direct-democratic campaigns on minority affairs; - the potential of transnational direct democracy.

Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy

Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy PDF Author: David Altman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108496636
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 283

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Book Description
Offers a comparative study of the origins, performance, and reform of contemporary mechanisms of direct democracy.

Local Direct Democracy in Europe

Local Direct Democracy in Europe PDF Author: Theo Schiller
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3531928988
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 287

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Book Description
Modern direct democracy has recently become an important element of political life in many countries. These developments can be observed at the national, regional, and local level of political systems. Participation and democracy in local political affairs play a major role in stabilising and developing democratic systems. This volume presents, for the first time, a broad basis of information on the wide variety of local institutions and practice of direct democracy in 19 countries. Country specialists analyse - the role of direct democracy in the institutional context and culture of national political systems, - political processes of introduction and development of initiatives and referendums, - regulations of procedures of municipal direct democracy, - practice of local direct democracy, - the contribution of local direct democracy to democratic development in general.

The European Way of Life

The European Way of Life PDF Author: Bertelsmann Stiftung
Publisher: Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung
ISBN: 3867933928
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 234

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Book Description
In "The European Way of Life" the Bertelsmann Stiftung looks back at what the European Union has already achieved, and sets its sights on the future. What are the challenges to which European policymaking will have to rise in the years ahead? How can the European project be given a new lease of life? Europeans tend to be rather critical of the EU, but the fact of the matter is that the EU member states will have to work together more closely if Europe wishes to get its message across on the global stage. "The European Way of Life" assembles some of the most important analyses produced by the Bertelsmann Stiftung's European projects. The topics range from the euro to the President of the EU, and from the EU's relationship with Russia to the Union for the Mediterranean. In three chapters devoted to Europe's democracy, economy and values, the experts at the Bertelsmann Stiftung come up with a host of stimulating ideas and make a number of specific recommendations. Guest authors Joschka Fischer, Wolfgang Schüssel and Guy Verhofstadt reveal their thoughts about the European Union, and make a point of emphasizing that crises have always been turning points and have repeatedly presented new opportunities, especially in the EU. "The European Way of Life" wishes to engage in a dialogue with both normal EU citizens who are interested in these topics, and with wellinformed experts. The articles include a number of informative charts and diagrams.

The Multi-level and Polycentric European Union

The Multi-level and Polycentric European Union PDF Author: Robert Grzeszczak
Publisher: LIT Verlag Münster
ISBN: 364390181X
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 175

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Book Description
This volume offers a broad conceptual spectrum on the political and legal system of the European Union. The heuristic of multi-level governance relates to the multiple actors, the interconnectedness between levels of decision-making, and the interpenetration of institutions and actors. Additionally, legal sciences stress numerous legal centers, which, on the one hand, espouse independent legal orders, while communicating with each other through legislative acts, executive decisions, and court decrees on the other. The fusion of the legal and political aspects of the EU provides an opportunity to view the sui generis system of the EU in a broader perspective, which promises to overcome reductionist approaches, both in legal and political sciences. (Series: Region - Nation - Europe / Region - Nation - Europa -- Vol. 69)

A Legal Analysis of NGOs and European Civil Society

A Legal Analysis of NGOs and European Civil Society PDF Author: Piotr Staszczyk
Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.
ISBN: 9403512520
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 471

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Book Description
Amid widespread awareness and discussion of “the democratic deficit” and “shrinking civil space,” the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) becomes increasingly important. Yet the precise legal status of such bodies is ill-defined. Here, for the first time, is a thorough commentary and analysis of the position of NGOs and European civil society in the European Union (EU) constitutional system, bringing to the fore existing and desirable means of public participation in EU lawmaking. Recognizing that NGOs have historically been designed to meet the ends of civil society, the analysis focuses on the following topics and issues: means in EU law of advocating for the collective interests of civil society; unofficial means of influencing the EU institutions; access to documents and the European Citizens’ Initiative as means of exerting pressure on EU legislation; relations between the EU institutions and NGOs, including lobbying activities; bringing actions in the common good before courts and other institutions; the special role of NGOs in environmental protection; complaints to the Commission and the European Ombudsman; EU funding for NGOs; and transboundary philanthropy. Drawing on a broad spectrum of sources of law, including CJEU case law and relevant legal literature, the book offers insightful proposals leading to the democratization of the EU’s internal procedures that will allow enhanced cooperation of civil society representatives across national borders. In its thorough examination of legal tools that can respond to the “democratic deficit,” this book makes a distinctive contribution to the public debate on the future of the European Union, especially in the context of emerging threats to further integration. It will prove of great value not only to civil activists, academics and policymakers but also to everyone interested in European integration and affordance for social participation.