Colleagues, Alistair,
What I would be especially interested in regarding Souter's campaign are
procedure and law. I have not lived in bonny Scotland, sadly, for about 45
years so am a bit out of touch.
Can a citizen, or group of citizens formally propose a law or removal of a
law? If so, after gathering enough support, does such a proposal go before
the parliament or does/can it go directly before the people for referendum?
Alistair McCulloch wrote Tue, 02 May 2000 12:54:50
>Michael might be interested to look at the current initiative (and the
>debates over it) by Brian Souter, Director of Stagecoach bus company,
>evangelical Christian and Scotland's richest man, to carry out a national
>referendum within Scotland over the repeal of Clause 28. For those outwith
>the UK, this is a law which (and here I summerise) outlaws the promotion
>of homosexual lifestyles in state-funded schools. (Actually, the
>responsibility is laid on the local authority rather then the school, but
>the net effect is the same.) For details I would go to The Scotman
>WWW-site (Edinburgh0based newspaper read by those in Scottish government
>circles.
>
>Regards
>
>Alistair McCulloch
>Edge Hill CHE
>Ormskirk
>Lancs UK
>
>>>> Michael Macpherson <[log in to unmask]> 04/30 10:20 am >>>
>Dear Colleagues,
>
>I quote from a letter of The Referenda Society
>(contact via http://www.snafu.de/~mjm/refer1.html )
>
>
>"(...) if legislation
> is secured by Peoples' Petition, it is envisaged that two elements of
> direct democracy would obtain. One, mandatory referenda in respect of
> any constitutional changes. Two, popular initiatives in respect of
> sponsoring proposals or challenging bad legislation, of which there is
> a great deal."
>
>My questions:
>
>Are there recent examples of "Peoples' Petition"? What is the history of
>this procedure in England and Britain, its successes and failures? How can
>such a petition be organised today? Are there other ways to introduce
>citizens' initiative and referendum into the present indirect
>(representative) system of government?
>
>Sincerely,
>Michael Macpherson
>mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
>Dr. M J Macpherson M.R.C.P. (U.K.)
Thanks in advance for any answers,
M Macpherson
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