Beyond the Reach of the People? Admissibility Requirements and Procedures for Citizens’ Initiatives in Comparative Perspective

Increased concerns about misuse of citizens’ initiatives and referendums to undermine liberal democracy – Efforts to balance popular sovereignty with the rule of law – Inadmissibility of certain types of direct-democratic requests in virtually all European states – Compliance of restrictions on what citizens may propose with the right to participate in public affairs guaranteed by Article 25(a) ICCPR – First systematic analysis of admissibility requirements and procedures for citizens’ initiatives in Europe