Rolul instituţiei iniţiativei cetăţeneşti în promovarea democraţiei [Articol]

Abstract

In contemporary democratic systems, citizens have the right to good governance, but also the chance to contribute directly to the affairs of the state, to the extent that this can be achieved and with certain available means. Direct democracy, more precisely, the direct involvement of the people in the elaboration of political decisions, took, in modern representative systems, three institutional forms: the popular vote (at the national or local level); popular initiative and revocation. And at the European level, the tendency to amplify the role of citizens' participation in the decision-making process materialized. The effectiveness of the instruments of direct democracy depends not only on how they are defined by law, but also on the frequency of their use. Through the institutions of direct democracy, citizens are given the chance to contribute directly to the affairs of the state. Direct and representative democracy should not be seen as polar opposites, but as complementary tools that can contribute to improving the quality of democracy. Direct democracy offers better and more differentiated opportunities for the expression of individual and collective interests than purely representative systems.