This publication focuses on the essence and origin of referendums and referendum democracy from the perspective of entrenching the doctrine, the constitutional law-making and the law application practice. The author makes a systematic analysis of veches, popular assemblies, communes, conventions and other archaic forms of democracy in the medieval States of Eastern and Western Europe, as well as in the North American colonies at the times when they were settled by Puritan communities. The article examines the phenomenology of transformation of popular assemblies in the Swiss colonies into referendum as an institution, analyzes the content of this term and of the institution, its comparability with plebiscites, evolution and further constitutional consolidation.

The article makes and substantiates the conclusion that at the end of the XIX century in Switzerland, the United States and France, at the level of political and legal doctrine and the Constitution and law application practice, three main models of referendum democracy were formed and developed further worldwide over the next 120 years. The first Swiss model of referendum democracy is the most ancient, and its essence consists in the comprehensive use of various types of referendums at the canton and Federation level for mandatory consideration of constitutional amendments (proposals), issues of Switzerland’s entry to and exit from international treaties and unions, as well as other issues which citizens regard as the issues which should be resolved in a referendum, subject to compliance with the procedure for initiating the voting. This model, on the one hand, inspired J.-J. Rousseau to write his “Social Contract”, and on the other hand, it received its own doctrinal basis from him.

The second American model of referendum democracy was developed in the United States under the influence of the developing traditions of self-government in Puritan communities which became the first centers of public power in the North American colonies; this model was used exclusively at the level of states, to directly address the issues of importance for these communities. Since the eighteenth century, referendumdemocracy has become an integral part of political processes and is applied to legitimization of constitutions of the states and amendments thereto. The third French “plebiscitarian” model of referendum democracy was based on the theories and doctrines of thinkers of the XVII–XVIII centuries, primarily J.-J. Rousseau, about popular sovereignty and its direct implementation, as well as on the contradictory experience of their implementation in the process of constitutional State-building during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars in Europe.

It is noted that the identified and examined models of referendum democracy (Swiss, American and French) are now multiplied by many other new models (Scandinavian, Latin American, Iberian, post-socialist, Islamic, etc.). But it is the Swiss, American and French models of referendum democracy, in their combination, that form a kind of a “matrix” of modern referendum democracy. If effective legislation on referendums in Ukraine is to be revived, the values, essence (origin) and content of this “matrix” of referendum democracy should be taken into account.

Bibliography

Authored books 1.

Andrushko A, Zlochyny proty vyborchykh prav hromadian ta yikh prava braty uchast u referendumi: kryminalno-pravova kharakterystyka [Crimes against Electoral Rights of Citizens and Their Right to Participate in a Referendum: Criminal and Legal Characterization] (KNT 2007) (in Ukrainian).

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3. Cheraks B, Vsemirnaja istorija. Zolotaja orda. Pokoriteli Azii [World History. The Golden Horde. Conquerors of Asia] (Klub semejnogo dosuga 2020) (in Russian).

4. Durdenevskij V, Inostrannoe konstitucionnoe pravo v izbrannyh obrazcah [Foreign Constitutional Law in Selected Examples] (Gosizdat 1925) (in Russian).

5. Efimova E, Krepostnye i vol’nye goroda v staroj Francii [Bonded and Free Cities in the Old France] (Tipogr T-va I D Sytina 1905) (in Russian).

6. Fedorenko V, Konstitucіjne pravo Ukrainy: pіdruchnyk [Constitutional Law of Ukraine: Textbook] (Lіra 2016) (in Ukrainian).

7. Fillipov A, Istorija russkogo prava. Konspekt lekcij (izd dlja slush avtora) [History of Russian Law. Lecture Notes (Ed. for Author’s Students)], ch I, vyp I (Obshh rasprostr polezn knig 1905) (in Russian).

8. Ger’e V, Ponjatie o vlasti i o narode v nakazah 1789 goda. Rech’ proiznesennaja v torzhestvennom Sobranii Imperatorskogo Moskovskogo Universiteta 12-go janvarja 1884 goda [The Concept of Power and the People in the Orders of 1789. The Speech Delivered at the Solemn Meeting of the Imperial Moscow University on January 12, 1884] (Universitet tipografii 1884) (in Russian).

9. Kareev N, Proishozhdenie sovremennogo narodno-pravovogo gosudarstva. Istoricheskij ocherk konstitucionnyh uchrezhdenij i uchenij do serediny XIX veka [The Origin of Modern People’s Rule-of-Law State. A Historical Review of Constitutional Institutions and Doctrines Up to the Middle of the XIX Century] (Tipogr M M Stasjulevicha 1908) (in Russian).

10. Kovalevsij M, Ot prjamogo narodopravstva k predstavitel’nomu i ot patriarhal’noj monarhii k parlamentarizmu. Rost gosudarstva i ego otrazhenie v istorii politicheskih uchenij [From Direct People’s Power to Representative Democracy and from Patriarchal Monarchy to Parliamentarism. The Growth of the State and Its Reflection in the History of Political Doctrines], t ІІ (Tipogr I D Sytina 1906) (in Russian).

11. Kovalevskij M, Ot prjamogo narodopravstva k predstavitel’nomu i ot patriarhal’noj monarhii k parlamentarizmu. Rost gosudarstva i ego otrazhenie v istorii politicheskih uchenij [From Direct People’s Power to Representative Democracy and from Patriarchal Monarchy to Parliamentarism. The Growth of the State and Its Reflection in the History of Political Doctrines], t I (Tipogr I D Sytina 1906) (in Russian).

12. Kovalevskij M, Ot prjamogo narodopravstva k predstavitel’nomu i ot patriarhal’noj monarhii k parlamentarizmu. Rost gosudarstva i ego otrazhenie v istorii politicheskih uchenij [From Direct People’s Power to Representative Democracy and from Patriarchal Monarchy to Parliamentarism. The Growth of the State and Its Reflection in the Historyof Political Doctrines], t III (Tipogr I D Sytina 1906) (in Russian).

13. Krylov N, Ob istoricheskom znachenii Rimskogo prava v oblasti nauk juridicheskih. Rech’, proiznesennaja v torzhestvennom sobranii Imperatorskogo Moskovskogo Universiteta 11 ijunja 1858 g. Moskva [On the Historical Significance of Roman Law in the Field of Legal Sciences. The Speech Delivered at the Solemn Meeting of the Imperial Moscow University on June 11, 1858, in Moscow] (Universitetskaja Tipografija 1838) (in Russian).

14. Kuian I, Suverenitet: problemy teorii i praktyky: konstytutsiino-pravovyi aspekt [Sovereignty and Exercise of Power Capability of a Democratic State] (Akademiia 2013) (in Ukrainian). 15. Maksakova R, Konstytutsiino-pravovi problemy orhanizatsii ta realizatsii ustanovchoi vlady v Ukraini [Constitutional and Legal Problems of Organization and Implementation of Constituent Power in Ukraine] (Klasychnyi pryvatnyi universytet 2012) (in Ukrainian).

16. Novgorodcev P, Krizis sovremennogo pravosoznanija [The Crisis of Modern Legal Consciousness in Europe] (Tipo-litograf T-va I N Kushnarev 1909) (in Russian).

17. Onishchuk M, Referendna demokratiia: problemy konstytutsiinoi teorii ta praktyky [Referendum Democracy: Issues of Constitutional Theory and Practice] (Vyd-vo Yevropeiskoho universytetu 2009) (in Ukrainian).

18. Pohorilko V, Fedorenko V, Referendne pravo Ukrainy: navchalnyi posibnyk [Referendum Law of Ukraine. Teaching Guide] (Lira-K 2006) (in Ukrainian).

19. Pohorilko V ta Fedorenko V, Referendumy v Ukraini: istoriia ta suchasnist [Referendums in Ukraine: History and Modernity] (In-t derzhavy i prava NAN Ukrainy 2000) (in Ukrainian).

20. Semeniuk O, Kryminalno-pravova kharakterystyka porushennia zakonodavstva proreferendumy [Criminal and Legal Characterization of Violation of Referendum Legislation] (“NVP” INTERSERVIS 2012) (in Ukrainian).

21. Shapoval V, Fenomen konstytutsiinoho prava [The Phenomenon of Constitutional Law] (Instytut zakonodavstva Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy 2017) (in Ukrainian).

22. Shcherbaniuk O, Narodnyi suverenitet i realizatsiia vladospromozhnosti demokratychnoi derzhavy [People’s Sovereignty and the Realization of the Power of a Democratic State], kn II (Lohos 2013) (in Ukrainian).

23. Tahtarev K, Ot predstavitel’stva k narodovlastiju. K izucheniju novejshih stremlenij politicheskogo razvitija sovremennogo obshhestva [From Representation to Democracy. On the Study of the Latest Aspirations of Political Development in Modern Society] (Biblioteka Obshhestvoznanija 1907) (in Russian).

24. Tarle E, Istorija Italii v Novoe vremja [History of Italy in Modern Times] (Brokgauz-Efron 1901) (in Russian).

 25. Vladimirskij-Budanov M, Obzor istorii russkogo prava [A Review of the History of Russian Law] (izd 7-e, Knizhn mag N Ja Ogloblina 1915) (in Russian).

26. Yanchuk A, Bezposerednie zdiisnennia vlady narodom v Ukraini (konstytutsiino-pravovyi analiz) [Direct Exercise of Power by the People in Ukraine (Constitutional Law Analysis)] (Drukarnia Ruta 2014) (in Ukrainian).

 27. Yanchuk A, Teoretychni zasady referendumnoho protsesu v Ukraini [Theoretical Foundations of the Referendum Process in Ukraine] (Kyivskyi universytet 2010) (in Ukrainian).

 Edited and translated books

28. Borzho Sh, Uchrezhdenie i peresmotr konstitucij [Establishment and Revision of Constitutions] (Vysockij P per, Izd-e M i S Sabashnikovyh 1918) (in Russian).

29. Brajs Dzh, Amerikanskaja Respublika [The American Republic], chast’ I: Nacional’noe pravitel’stvo, [National Government] (per s angl, Izd K T Soldatenkova 1889) (in Russian).

30. Djunan A, Narodnoe zakonodatel’stvo v Shvejcarii. Istoricheskij obzor [People’s Legislation in Switzerland. A Historical Review] (per s fr, Tipografija Al’tshullera 1896) (in Russian).

31. Dzhanda K i Berri D i Goldman D i Hula K, Trudnym putem demokratii: Process gosudarstvennogo upravlenija v SShA [On the Hard Path of Democracy: the Process of Public Administration in the United States] (per s angl, ROSSPJeN 2006) (in Russian).

32. Gachek Ju, Obshhee gosudarstvennoe pravo na osnove sravnitel’nogo pravovedenija. Chast’ II. Pravo sovremennoj demokratii [Common State Law Based on Comparative Law Studies. Law of Modern Democracy] (per s nem, Nauka i Zhizn’ 1913) (in Russian).

33. Gegel’ G, Filosofija prava [Philosophy of Law] (per s nem, Mysl’ 1990) (in Russian).

34. Hrestomatija pamjatnikov feodal’nogo gosudarstva i prava stran Evropy (Gosudarstvo drevnih frankov, Anglo-Saksonskoe gosudarstvo, Anglija, Germanija, Ispanija, Italija, Francija, Albanija, Bolgarija, Vengrija, Pol’sha, Rumunija, Chehija, Jugoslovija) [The Reading Book about Monuments of the Feudal State and Law of European Countries (the State of Ancient Franks, the Anglo-Saxon State, England, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Yugoslavia)] (Koreckij V red, Gosjurizdat 1961) (in Russian).

35. Istoriia Ukrainy. Korotkyi kurs [History of Ukraine. Abridged Course] (Bielousov S ta in red, Vyd-vo Akademii nauk URSR 1941) (in Ukrainian).

36. Jekkartsgauzen K, Kodeks ili Zakonopolozhenie chelovecheskogo razuma [The Code or Statute of Human Reason] (per, Tipografija I Glazunova 1817) (in Russian).

37. Kanfora L, Demokratija. Istorija odnoj ideologii [Democracy. History of One Ideology] (per s ital, Aleksandrija 2012) (in Russian).

38. Kol’b G Fr, Istorija chelovecheskoj kul’tury s ocherkom form gosudarstvennogo pravlenija, politiki, razvitija svobody i blagosostojanija narodov [History of Human Culture with a Review of the Forms of State Government, Politics, Development of Freedom and Prosperity of Peoples], kn 2 (per s nem, Juzh-rus kn-vo F A Iogansona 1896–1899) (in Russian).

39. Kondorsje Zh, Jeskiz istoricheskoj kartiny progressa chelovecheskogo razuma [Brief Historical Picture of the Progress of Human Mind]

40. Konstytutsii zarubizhnykh krain: navchalnyi posibnyk [Constitutions of Foreign Countries: Teaching Guide] (Serohin V zah red, FINN 2009) (in Ukrainian).

41. Kovryzhenko D (red), Referendumi v Ievropeiskomy Soiuzi [Referendums in the European Union] (FADA, LTD 2007) (in Ukrainian).

42. Krastev I, Posle Evropy [After Europe] (per s angl, Delo 2018) (in Russian).

43. Kurti T, Istorija narodnogo zakonodatel’stva i demokratii v Shvejcarii [History of People’s Legislation and Democracy in Switzerland] (per s nem, Znanie 1900) (in Russian).

44. Lipset S, ‘Politicheskij chelovek: social’nye osnovy politicheskoj zhizni’ [‘Political Man: Social Foundations of Political Life’] v Teorija i praktika demokratii. Izbrannye teksty [Theory and Practice of Democracy. Selected Texts] (per s angl, Inozemcev V i Kapustina B red, Ladomir 2006) (in Russian).

45. Makijavelli N, Istorija Florencii [History of Florence] (Rykova N per, Nauka 1973) (in Russian).

46. Makijavelli N, Knjaz’ (IL PRINCIPE) [The Prince] (per s ital, Izd N N Klochkova 1910) (in Russian).

47. Pohorilko V ta Stavniichuk M (red), Vyborche pravo Ukrainy: navchalnyi posibnyk [Electoral Law of Ukraine: Teaching Guide] (Parlamentske vydavnytstvo 2003) (in Ukrainian).

48. Russo Zh-Zh, Traktaty [Treatises] (Alekseev-Popov V i drugie, izd podgot, Nauka 1969) (in Russian).

49. Samjuel’ G, Liberalizm. Opyt izlozhenija principov i programmy sovremennogo liberalizma v Anglii [Liberalism. The Experience of Setting out the Principles and Programs of Modern Liberalism in England] (per s angl, Izd I Romanova 1906) (in Russian).

50. Slinko T ta Dakhova I, ‘Referendumy v Ukraini’ [‘Referendums in Ukraine’] v Konstytutsiine pravo Ukrainy: pidruchnyk [Constitutional Law of Ukraine: Textbook] (Slinko T zah red, Pravo 2020) (in Ukrainian).

51. Sovremennye Konstitucii. Sbornik dejstvujushhih konstitucionnyh aktov, [Modern Constitutions. Collected Current Constitutional Acts] t II: Federacii i Respubliki [Federations and Republics] (Gessen V i Nol’de B per, Pravo 1907) (in Russian).

52. Stavniichuk M, ‘Referendumy v Ukraini’ [‘Referendums in Ukraine’] v Konstytutsiine pravo Ukrainy: pidruchnyk [Constitutional Law of Ukraine: Textbook] (Pohrilko V red, Naukova dumka 1999) (in Ukrainian).

53. Tokvil A de, Pro demokratiiu v Amerytsi [On Democracy in America] (perekl z frants, Vsesvit 1999) (in Ukrainian).

54. Vil’son V, Gosudarstvo. Proshloe i nastojashhee konstitucionnyh uchrezhdenij [The State. The Past and Present of Constitutional Institutions] (per s angl, Izd V M Sablina 1905) (in Russian).

55. Vil’son V, Novaja svoboda [The New Freedom] (Dombrovskie N i V per, Izdanie N i V D 1919) (in Russian).

56. Yevropeiskyi demokratychnyi dorobok u haluzi vyborchoho prava: Materialy Venetsianskoi komisii, Parlamentskoi Asamblei, Komitetu Ministriv, Konhresu mistsevykh i rehionalnykhvlad Rady Yevropy [The European Democratic Developments in Electoral Law: Materials of the Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe] (per z anhl, vyd 2-e, Lohos 2009) (in Ukrainian).

Dictionaries

57. Slovnyk inshomovnykh sliv [Dictionary of Foreign Words] (Morozov S ta Shkaraputa L uklad, Naukova dumka 2000) (in Ukrainian).

Journal articles

58. Derev’ianko S, ‘Referendum yak demokratychnyi politychnyi instytut: problemy instytutsionalizatsii’ [‘Referendum as a Democratic Political Institution: Institutionalization Issues’] [2012] 60 (5) Hileia 689–94 (in Ukrainian).

59. Fedorenko V, ‘Konstytutsionalizm i revoliutsii’ [‘Constitutionalism and Revolutions’] (2018) 4 Pravo Ukrainy 74–5 (in Ukrainian).

60. Fedorenko V, ‘Referendum: te, shcho maie buty povidomlene’ [‘Referendum: What Should Be Reported’] (1998) 11 Viche 54–60 (in Ukrainian).

61. Fedorenko V, ‘Vseukrainskyi referendum: problemy teorii ta praktyky’ [‘The All-Ukrainian Referendum: Issues of Theory and Practice’] (1998) 11 Pravo Ukrainy 136–41 (in Ukrainian).

62. Kryvenko L, ‘Referendum. Nablyzhennia do horyzontu’ [‘Referendum. Approaching the Horizon’] (2004) 11 Viche 8–11 (in Ukrainian).

Theses

63. Bilan S, ‘Konstytutsiino-pravovi zasady referendumu, yak formy priamoho narodovladdia’ [‘Constitutional and Legal Foundations of Referendum as a Form of Direct Democracy’] (avtoref dys kand yuryd nauk, 2017) (in Ukrainian).

64. Riabchenko T, ‘Referendum yak forma bezposerednoi pravotvorchosti Ukrainskoho narodu (teoretychni aspekty)’ [‘Referendum as a Form of Direct Law-Making of the Ukrainian People (Theoretical Aspects)’] (dys kand yuryd nauk, 2015) (in Ukrainian).

65. Stavniichuk A, ‘Mistsevyi referendum yak forma bezposerednoho zdiisnennia munitsypalnoi vlady terytorialnoiu hromadoiu’ [‘Local Referendum as a Form of Immediate Exercise of Municipal Power by a Territorial Community’] (dys kand yuryd nauk, 2017) (in Ukrainian).

66. Fedorenko V, ‘Konstytutsiino-pravovi osnovy vseukrainskoho referendumu: problemy teorii ta praktyky’ [‘Constitutional and Legal Foundations of the All-Ukrainian Referendum: Issues of Theory and Practice’] (avtoref dys kand yuryd nauk, 1999) (in Ukrainian).

Conference papers

67. Mistsevi referendumy v Ukraini: teoretychni ta normoproektni aspekty: materialy “kruhloho stolu” [Local Referendums in Ukraine: Theoretical and Rule-Making Aspects: Materials of the Round Table] (Fedorenko V ker avtor kol, SPD Moskalenko O M 2009) (in Ukrainian).

68. Onishchuk M ta Fedorenko V, ‘Problemy henezysu i typolohii referendnoi demokratii: svitovyi konstytutsiinyi dosvid’ [‘Issues of the Genesis and Typology of Referendum Democracy: World Constitutional Experience’] v Konstytutsiia i narodnyi suverenitet v Ukraini: problemy teorii i praktyky realizatsii. Zbirka naukovykh prats [The Constitution and People’s Sovereignty in Ukraine: Issues of Theory and Implementation Practice. Collected Scientific Papers] (V Kampo, M Savchyn zah red, 2008) (in Ukrainian).

Newspaper articles

69. Kaufman B, ‘Suchasna priama demokratiia’ [‘Modern Direct Democracy’] (2018) 1 Federalnyi departament zakordonnykh sprav Shveitsarii, Presence Switzerland 36 (in Ukrainian).

Websites 70. ‘Shveitsarskaia priamaia demokratyia’ [‘Swiss Direct Democracy’] (The Electoral Knowledge Network) <http://aceproject.org/ace-ru/topics/es/esy/esy_ch02> (accessed: 03.08.2020) (in Ukrainian).