Participating In Our Democracy 

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A Proposal for Participatory Democracy 

. . . lessons from Switzerland

Democracy is a form of government that aims to reflect the will of the people and protect their rights and freedoms. 

However, not all democracies are equally participatory, meaning that not all citizens have the same opportunities and incentives to influence the political decisions that affect their lives. 

In some democracies, such as the United States, the citizens elect representatives who make laws and policies on their behalf, but they have little direct say in the legislative process or the executive actions. 

This can lead to problems such as low voter turnout, political apathy, corruption, polarization, and dissatisfaction with the government.

One way to address these problems is to adopt a more participatory form of democracy, where the citizens have more direct involvement and control over the political system. 

A possible model for this is the Swiss style of government, which is considered to be one of the most direct and decentralized democracies in the world. In this document, we will outline the main features of the Swiss political system and suggest some steps that could be taken to implement a similar system in other countries.

The Swiss Political System

Switzerland is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, which are semi-autonomous states with their own constitutions, governments, and parliaments. 

The federal level of government is responsible for matters such as foreign policy, national defense, monetary policy, and immigration, while the cantons and the municipalities have more authority over areas such as education, health, culture, and taxation. 

The federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.

The legislative branch is the Federal Assembly, which consists of two chambers: the National Council and the Council of States. 

The National Council has 200 members who are elected by proportional representation for four-year terms. The Council of States has 46 members who represent the cantons, with two members per canton and one per half-canton. 

The two chambers have equal powers and can initiate, amend, and approve laws. The Federal Assembly also elects the members of the executive and the judicial branches.

The executive branch is the Federal Council, which is a seven-member collegial body that acts as both the head of state and the head of government. 

The Federal Council is elected by the Federal Assembly for four-year terms, and each member leads a federal department (ministry). 

The members of the Federal Council are usually from the four major political parties, and they share the power and responsibility equally. 

The president of the Swiss Confederation is one of the members of the Federal Council, who rotates every year and has a largely ceremonial role.

The judicial branch is the Federal Supreme Court, which is the highest court of appeal in the country. The judges of the Federal Supreme Court are elected by the Federal Assembly for six-year terms, and they can review the constitutionality and legality of the federal, cantonal, and municipal laws and decisions.

The Swiss Direct Democracy

What makes the Swiss political system unique and participatory is the extensive use of direct democracy, which is a legal framework that enables all Swiss citizens over the age of 18 to vote on specific issues. 

The Swiss direct democracy has three main instruments: the mandatory referendum, the optional referendum, and the popular initiative.

The mandatory referendum is a constitutional requirement that any amendment to the federal constitution must be approved by a majority of the voters and a majority of the cantons. 

This means that the Federal Assembly cannot change the constitution without the consent of the people and the cantons.

The optional referendum is a mechanism that allows the citizens to challenge any law passed by the Federal Assembly within 100 days of its publication. 

If 50,000 signatures are collected, the law is put to a popular vote, and it can be rejected or accepted by a majority of the voters.

The popular initiative is a tool that allows the citizens to propose amendments to the federal constitution or new laws. 

If 100,000 signatures are collected within 18 months, the proposal is submitted to the Federal Assembly, which can either accept it, reject it, or propose a counter-proposal. 

The proposal and the counter-proposal are then put to a popular vote, and the one that receives the most votes is adopted.

The cantons and the municipalities also have their own forms of direct democracy, which vary in scope and procedure. 

The cantons can hold referendums and initiatives on cantonal matters, and the municipalities can hold referendums and initiatives on local matters. 

The cantons and the municipalities can also hold non-binding consultative votes on various issues to gauge the public opinion.

The Benefits and Challenges of the Swiss Direct Democracy

The Swiss direct democracy has several benefits for the political system and the society. 

It increases the political participation and engagement of the citizens, who can express their opinions and preferences on various issues and influence the political outcomes.

It enhances the legitimacy and accountability of the government, which has to respect the will of the people and the cantons and cannot act against their interests.

It fosters the political culture of compromise and consensus, as the different parties and groups have to negotiate and cooperate to find common solutions and avoid conflicts.

It promotes the political diversity and pluralism, as the different opinions and perspectives are represented and heard in the public debate and the decision-making process.

It protects the rights and freedoms of the minorities, as they can challenge the majority decisions and propose alternative options.

The Swiss direct democracy also has some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed and overcome. Some of the challenges are:
 
It requires a high level of political education and information of the citizens, who need to be aware of the issues and the consequences of their choices and votes.

It can be influenced by the media and the interest groups, who can manipulate the public opinion and the agenda with propaganda and misinformation.

 It can be costly and time-consuming, as the frequent referendums and initiatives require a lot of resources and efforts to organize and implement.

It can lead to the tyranny of the majority, as the majority decisions can disregard or harm the rights and interests of the minorities or the future generations.

It can create instability and uncertainty, as the political outcomes can change rapidly and unpredictably depending on the mood and the preferences of the voters.

The Steps to Implement a More Participatory Democracy

Based on the Swiss model, the following steps could be taken to implement a more participatory form of democracy in other countries. 

Amend the constitution to introduce the instruments of direct democracy at the federal, state, and local levels, and define the rules and procedures for their use.

Establish an independent and impartial body to oversee and regulate the direct democracy process, and ensure its transparency and fairness.

Provide the citizens with adequate and accessible information and education on the issues and the options, and encourage their participation and engagement.

Strengthen the civil society and the media, and support their role in facilitating and moderating the public debate and the dialogue.

Balance the direct democracy with the representative democracy, and ensure the cooperation and coordination between the different levels and branches of government.