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.)
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