Direct Democracy Database
Issues excluded from being the subject of referendums at the national level
| Theme | Referendum |
|---|
Breakdown by continent
| Continent | None | Devolution | Civil service | Amnesty and pardon | Constitutional amendments | Not specified by legislation | Adoption of international treaties | Conflict between constitutional organs | Issues related to territorial integrity | Taxes and public expenditure commitments | Transfer of authority to international bodies | National sovereignty, national self-determination | Other | No data | Countries researched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 35 (70.0%) |
1 (2.0%) |
1 (2.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
4 (8.0%) |
7 (14.0%) |
2 (4.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
3 (6.0%) |
1 (2.0%) |
1 (2.0%) |
7 (14.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
50 |
| Americas | 12 (38.7%) |
1 (3.2%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
1 (3.2%) |
4 (12.9%) |
2 (6.5%) |
1 (3.2%) |
0 (0.0%) |
9 (29.0%) |
1 (3.2%) |
1 (3.2%) |
12 (38.7%) |
0 (0.0%) |
31 |
| Asia | 16 (53.3%) |
2 (6.7%) |
8 (26.7%) |
6 (20.0%) |
3 (10.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
3 (10.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
3 (10.0%) |
8 (26.7%) |
0 (0.0%) |
2 (6.7%) |
12 (40.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
30 |
| Europe | 10 (29.4%) |
2 (5.9%) |
6 (17.6%) |
10 (29.4%) |
2 (5.9%) |
4 (11.8%) |
7 (20.6%) |
0 (0.0%) |
4 (11.8%) |
17 (50.0%) |
1 (2.9%) |
3 (8.8%) |
19 (55.9%) |
0 (0.0%) |
34 |
| Oceania | 7 (70.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
3 (30.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
10 |
| Other | 0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
0 |
| Total | 80 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 37 | 3 | 7 | 50 | 0 | 155 |
Country Answers
| Country | Year | Value (Text) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 2014 | None | |
| Albania | 2022 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Issues related to territorial integrity Amnesty and pardon Limitations of fundamental human rights and freedoms Declaration and abrogation of the state of emergency Declaration of war and peace |
|
| Algeria | 2013 | None | |
| Andorra | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Angola | 2014 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 2014 | None | |
| Argentina | 2014 | The law excludes specific issues regulated by Constitution. | |
| Armenia | 2022 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties National sovereignty, national self-determination Devolution Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon |
|
| Australia | 2015 | None | |
| Austria | 2014 | None | |
| Azerbaijan | 2014 | Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon |
|
| Bahamas | 2014 | None | |
| Bahrain | 2013 | None | |
| Belarus | 2014 | Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Issues related to territorial integrity Amnesty and pardon Any questions pertaining to election and dismissal of the President. |
|
| Belize | 2013 | None | |
| Benin | 2014 | National sovereignty, national self-determination See also source |
|
| Bermuda | 2013 | None | |
| Bhutan | 2014 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments See also sources |
|
| Bolivia | 2014 | Devolution Taxes and public expenditure commitments See also source |
|
| Botswana | 2014 | None | |
| Brazil | 2013 | None | |
| Bulgaria | 2022 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Also many other issues which are defined in the Article 9 of the Act on Direct Participation of Citizens in Government and Local Government |
|
| Burkina Faso | 2013 | None | |
| Burundi | 2014 | None | |
| Cabo Verde | 2014 | Devolution Taxes and public expenditure commitments See also quote |
|
| Cameroon | 2013 | None | |
| Canada | 2013 | No provisions in this regard | |
| Cayman Islands | 2014 | None | |
| Central African Republic | 2013 | None | |
| Chad | 2014 | None | |
| Chile | 2022 | See comments | |
| Colombia | 2017 | Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments |
|
| Congo, Democratic Republic of | 2013 | Constitutional amendments See also sources |
|
| Cook Islands | 2014 | None | |
| Costa Rica | 2014 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments See also source |
|
| Croatia | 2013 | None | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Denmark | 2018 | Finance Bills; Supplementary Appropriation Bills; Provisional Appropriation Bills; Government Loan Bills; Civil Servants (Amendment) Bills; Salaries and Pensions Bills; Naturalization Bills; Expropriation Bills; Taxation (Direct and Indirect) Bills; Bills introduced for the purpose of discharging existing treaty obligations | |
| Dominica | 2014 | Transfer of authority to international bodies Conflict between constitutional organs |
|
| Dominican Republic | 2013 | Designation or recall of an elected authority | |
| Ecuador | 2014 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments See comment |
|
| Egypt | 2014 | None | |
| El Salvador | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Equatorial Guinea | 2013 | None | |
| Estonia | 2013 | Adoption of international treaties Transfer of authority to international bodies Taxes and public expenditure commitments Declaration or termination of a state of emergency; national defence |
|
| Eswatini | 2013 | None | |
| Ethiopia | 2013 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Fiji | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Finland | 2014 | None | |
| France | 2013 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Gabon | 2013 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Georgia | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties Amnesty and pardon Issues related to passing or revoking a law; and issues which restrict general human constitutional rights and freedom |
|
| Ghana | 2013 | See comments | |
| Gibraltar | 2017 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Greece | 2013 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments | |
| Grenada | 2013 | None | |
| Guatemala | 2013 | None | |
| Guinea | 2017 | None | |
| Honduras | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Hungary | 2014 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon See also sources |
|
| Iceland | 2017 | None | |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | 2014 | Constitutional amendments See also source |
|
| Iraq | 2014 | None | |
| Ireland | 2022 | None | |
| Italy | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon |
|
| Jamaica | 2014 | None | |
| Japan | 2014 | None | |
| Kazakhstan | 2013 | Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Issues related to territorial integrity Amnesty and pardon See more in the quote |
|
| Kenya | 2022 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Kiribati | 2013 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Korea, Republic of | 2013 | None | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2014 | Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon See also quote |
|
| Latvia | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments See also quote |
|
| Lesotho | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Liberia | 2014 | None | |
| Libya | 2014 | None | |
| Lithuania | 2013 | None | |
| Luxembourg | 2017 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Madagascar | 2013 | None | |
| Malawi | 2013 | None | |
| Maldives | 2013 | None | |
| Mali | 2013 | None | |
| Mauritania | 2013 | None | |
| Mauritius | 2013 | None | |
| Mexico | 2017 | National sovereignty, national self-determination Taxes and public expenditure commitments Restriction of human rights Separation of church and state Electoral matters The organization, operation and discipline of the permanent Military Forces |
|
| Moldova, Republic of | 2014 | Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon See also quote |
|
| Mongolia | 2013 | None | |
| Montenegro | 2014 | None | |
| Morocco | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Mozambique | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Transfer of authority to international bodies Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments See source for more excluded issues. |
|
| Myanmar | 2014 | None | |
| Namibia | 2013 | None | |
| Nauru | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Nepal | 2013 | None | |
| New Zealand | 2014 | None | |
| Nicaragua | 2013 | None | |
| Niger | 2013 | None | |
| Nigeria | 2014 | None | |
| Niue | 2013 | None | |
| North Macedonia, Republic of | 2017 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon Issues related to elections, appointments and dismissals |
|
| Pakistan | 2013 | None | |
| Palau | 2014 | None | |
| Panama | 2014 | None | |
| Paraguay | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments See also quote |
|
| Peru | 2014 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Any issue that implies diminishing or suppressing human rights or an international treaty already in force |
|
| Philippines | 2014 | Petition embracing more than one subject; Statutes involving emergency measures | |
| Poland | 2014 | See comments | |
| Portugal | 2018 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties National sovereignty, national self-determination Devolution Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon |
|
| Qatar | 2014 | None | |
| Republic of The Congo (Brazzaville) | 2013 | None | |
| Romania | 2014 | National sovereignty, national self-determination Issues related to territorial integrity See also sources |
|
| Russian Federation | 2013 | Devolution Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Issues related to territorial integrity Amnesty and pardon See also sources |
|
| Rwanda | 2014 | None | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2014 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Saint Lucia | 2013 | Constitutional amendments | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2013 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Samoa | 2013 | None | |
| Senegal | 2014 | None | |
| Serbia | 2021 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon Duties deriving from international contracts Laws pertaining to human and minority rights and freedoms Introduction of the state of emergency Issues pertaining to election competences of the National Assembly |
|
| Seychelles | 2013 | None | |
| Sierra Leone | 2013 | None | |
| Singapore | 2014 | None | |
| Slovakia | 2013 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Basic rights and freedoms |
|
| Slovenia | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties National sovereignty, national self-determination Taxes and public expenditure commitments See also source |
|
| Somalia | 2013 | None | |
| South Africa | 2013 | None | |
| South Sudan | 2014 | None | |
| Spain | 2013 | None | |
| Sri Lanka | 2013 | None | |
| Sudan | 2013 | None | |
| Suriname | 2017 | None | |
| Sweden | 2013 | None | |
| Switzerland | 2014 | Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments See source for more excluded issues |
|
| Syrian Arab Republic | 2014 | None | |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties Taxes and public expenditure commitments See source for more excluded issues. |
|
| Taiwan | 2018 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Salary and personnel affairs |
|
| Tajikistan | 2013 | Constitutional amendments Adoption of international treaties National sovereignty, national self-determination Devolution Civil service See source for more excluded issues |
|
| Tanzania, United Republic of | 2014 | None | |
| Thailand | 2017 | Issues contrary to or inconsistent with the Constitution | |
| The Gambia | 2014 | None | |
| Timor-Leste | 2014 | Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments See source for more excluded issues |
|
| Togo | 2014 | The status of the State as a republican and secular one | |
| Tunisia | 2014 | None | |
| Turkey | 2013 | None | |
| Turkmenistan | 2014 | Civil service Issues related to territorial integrity See also quote |
|
| Uganda | 2014 | None | |
| Ukraine | 2013 | Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Amnesty and pardon See more in the quotes |
|
| United Kingdom | 2015 | None | |
| Uruguay | 2014 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Constitutional laws and those related to issues where the initiative can solely be exerted by the Executive |
|
| Uzbekistan | 2013 | Civil service Taxes and public expenditure commitments Issues related to territorial integrity Amnesty and pardon See also sources |
|
| Vanuatu | 2013 | None | |
| Venezuela | 2014 | Taxes and public expenditure commitments Any amnesty law, or those that protect, guarantee or develop human rights as well as those that approve international treaties |
|
| Yemen | 2013 | None | |
| Zambia | 2013 | Not specified by legislation | |
| Zimbabwe | 2014 | None |
Total number of countries in selected sample: 155
