Maximising direct democracy - By popular assemblies or by ballot votes?

Abstract

According to a widespread but empirically hitherto untested perception, assembly democracy is the ideal-typical form for direct democracy. This paper examines whether this perception coincides with empirical evidence by systematically comparing the actual extent of citizens' direct-democratic involvement in assembly democracies and in ballot-box democracies. A longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of new data on the Swiss cantons reveals strikingly clear patterns: cantons with popular assemblies provide citizens with more and more easily accessible direct-democratic rights, and they hold popular votes more frequently. On the other hand, cantons with ballot-box voting are more successful in involving the citizens in direct-democratic decision-making with respect to turnout rates. © 2012 Swiss Political Science Association.