Mirek,
This very interesting post makes me suggest that, instead of struggling
for the best DD definition -- which struggle leads DD to nowhere but
insults, as we WDDM inhabitants are experiencing quite enough every
day -- it would be far more constructive if we defined DD for what
it
is *not* (see: "2. The following procedures" in the msg quoted
below)
instead of for what it *is*.
Regards,
antonio
www.flexible-learning.org
M. Kolar ha scritto:
Interestingly enough, the Campaign for direct democracy in
Britain
also struggles with the definition of Direct Democracy, and are
inviting
comments on their definition, see below:
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Definition of direct democracy by the people (revised)
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:41:46 +0100
From: M J Macpherson <mjm(at)iniref.org>
To: Kolar Mirek <wddm(at)mkolar.org>
Dear Mirek,
For purposes of the I&Rgb campaign we need a definition:
Definition of citizens’ direct democracy (1)(2).
Revised March 2008
Comments again invited.
We define citizens’ direct democracy CDD to include those forms of
governance in which the electorate decides on issues, matters of public
concern, in addition to choosing among candidates for council or
parliament (indirect or "representative" democracy). This form of
democracy CDD is often referred to as "the initiative and referendum".
Political power in CDD is exercised by “The People” although parliament
and government continue to operate as well.
The term “citizens’ direct democracy” refers to forms of democratic
decision-making which can be initiated by an agreed number of citizens
and which can lead to a decision by ballot or vote of the whole
electorate. In this context "ballot" means the same as binding
referendum or plebiscite. Thus citizens can select and determine public
issues, stipulate the wording of proposals and put proposals to the
whole electorate of the state, city, town, village or other political
unit. Examples of such procedures are:
-- the citizens’ law-proposal (initiative) leading to ballot,
-- the veto referendum,
-- the constitutional referendum and
-- the recall-initiative.
----------------------------------------------------
1. The term "direct democracy" has been applied (sometimes wrongly) to
a
range of conditions, systems and procedures in governance and public
constitution. We try to achieve precision by using the term "citizens’
direct democracy".
2. The following procedures do *not* conform to the definition of CDD
-- petition to ruling authority,
-- consultation,
-- citizens’ jury,
-- “citizens’ budget”,
-- referendum imposed or decreed by a ruling authority or parliament,
-- referendum which is only consultative,
-- referendum which is not legally binding on parliament and
government.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
Campaign for direct democracy in Britain
http://www.iniref.org/
e-mail info(at)iniref.org
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