Legal basis for administrative requirements at the national level

CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OFECUADOR (2008)

http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Ecuador/english08.html

SECTION FOUR
Direct democracy

(Agenda Initiative)

Article 103. Grass-roots legal andregulatory initiatives shall be exercised to propose the creation, amendment orrepeal of legal regulations to the Legislative Branch of Government or anyother body that has a regulatory jurisdiction. It must benefit from the backingof a number accounting for no less than zero point twenty-five percent (0.25%)of the persons registered in the voter registration list of the correspondingjurisdiction.

Those who propose a grass-roots initiativeshall participate, by means of their representatives, in discussing the projectin the corresponding body, which shall have a term of one-hundred eighty (180)days to review the proposal; if the proposal is not reviewed within thosetime-limits, it will enter into force.

When it involves a bill, the President ofthe Republic shall be able amend the bill but not to veto it completely.

For the submittal of constitutionalamendment proposals, the backing of a number accounting for no less than onepercent (1%) of the persons registered in the voter registration list shall berequired. If the Legislative Branch does not review the proposal within a termof one year, the proposers will be able to request the National ElectoralCouncil to call for a referendum, without the need to provide the eight percent(8%) backing of those registered in the voter registration list. While onegrass-roots proposal to amend the Constitution is being processed, no other canbe submitted at the same time.

(Optional referendum)

Article 104. The corresponding electoralbody shall convene a referendum as ordered by the President of the Republic,the supreme authority of decentralized autonomous governments or citizeninitiative.

The President of the Republic shallinstruct the National Electoral Council to convene a referendum on mattershe/she deems advisable.

Decentralized autonomous governments, onthe basis of a decision taken by three fourths of their members, can requestthat a referendum be convened on issues of interest for their jurisdiction.

Citizens will be able to request the callfor a referendum on any matter. When the referendum is nationwide, thepetitioner must reckon with the backing of a number accounting for no less thanfive percent (5%) of the persons registered in the voter registration list;when the referendum is local, it must be backed by a number accounting for noless than 10% of the corresponding voter list.

When the referendum is requested byEcuadorians abroad, for matters of interest to them and involving theEcuadorian State, it shall require the backing of a number accounting for noless than five percent (5%) of the persons registered on the voter registrationlist of their special voting precinct.

Referendums requested by the decentralizedautonomous governments or the citizenry shall not be able to refer totax-related matters or the country’s political and administrative structure,except for what is provided for in the Constitution.

In all cases, a previous ruling by theConstitutional Court on the constitutionality of the proposed questions shallbe required.

(Recall)

Article 105. All persons, in the exerciseof their political rights, will be able to recall elected authorities.

The request for recall can be submittedafter the first year and before the last year of the term of office for whichthe challenged authority was elected. During the term of office of anauthority, only one proceeding requesting his/her recall can be carried out.

The request for recall must be backed by anumber accounting for no less than ten percent (10%) of the persons registeredin the corresponding voter registration list. In the case of the President ofthe Republic, backing by a number accounting for no less than fifteen percent(15%) of the persons registered in the electoral registration list.

CHAPTER THREE
Amendingthe Constitution

[...]

(Mandatory Referendum)

Article 444. Installation of a ConstituentAssembly can only be called by referendum. This referendum can be requested bythe President of the Republic, by two thirds of the National Assembly or bytwelve percent (12%) of the persons registered on the voter registration list.The referendum must include how representatives must be elected and the rulesfor the electoral process. The new Constitution, for its entry into force,shall require adoption by referendum with half plus one of all valid ballotscast.

Article 407. Activities for the extractionof nonrenewable natural resources are forbidden in protected areas and in areasdeclared intangible assets, including forestry production. Exceptionally, theseresources can be tapped at the substantiated request of the President of theRepublic and after a declaration of national interest issued by the NationalAssembly, which can, if it deems it advisable, convene a referendum.

Ley Orgánica Electoral y de OrganizacionesPolíticas de la República del Ecuador, Código de la Democracia (Democracycode), del 27 de abril de 2009

http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=35394757

(AgendaInitiative)

CAPITULO TERCERO

Institucionesde Democracia Directa

Art. 182.- La ciudadan?a paraproponer una enmienda o reforma

constitucional, utilizar lainiciativa legislativa o para procesos de

consulta popular o revocatoriadel mandato, deber? entregar respaldos

con los nombres y apellidos,n?mero de c?dula de identidad y las

firmas o huellasdigitales de las personas que apoyan la propuesta.

SECCI?N PRIMERA

EnmiendaConstitucional

Art. 187.- La ciudadan?a con el respaldode al menos el ocho por

ciento de las personas inscritasen el registro electoral podr?

proponer la enmienda de uno ovarios art?culos de la Constitución que

no altere suestructura fundamental, el car?cter y elementos

constitutivosdel Estado, que no establezca restricciones a los

derechos ygarant?as, o que no modifique el procedimiento de reforma

de laConstitución. El tr?mite a seguir ser? el establecido para la

consultapopular.

SECCI?N SEGUNDA

ReformaConstitucional

Art. 188.- Ante la AsambleaNacional se podr?n presentar

propuestas de iniciativa ciudadanapara la reforma parcial de la

Constitución,que no supongan una restricci?n en los derechos y

garant?asconstitucionales, ni modifique el procedimiento de reforma

de laConstitución, con el respaldo de al menos el uno por ciento de ciudadanas yciudadanos inscritos en el registro electoral nacional.

SECCI?N TERCERA

Iniciativa Normativa

Art. 193.- La iniciativapopular normativa se ejercer? para

proponer la creaci?n, reformao derogatoria de normas jur?dicas ante

la AsambleaNacional o ante cualquier otro ?rgano con competencia

normativa.Deber? contar con el respaldo de un n?mero no inferior al

cero puntoveinte y cinco por ciento de las personas inscritas en el

registro electoral de lajurisdicci?n correspondiente.

(Mandatory referendum)

SECCI?N CUARTA

Refer?ndum y laConsulta Popular

Art. 195.- ElConsejo Nacional Electoral convocar? a consulta

popular por disposici?n de laPresidenta o Presidente de la República,

de la m?xima autoridad de losgobiernos aut?nomos descentralizados, de

la inicia