1976 Swiss referendums

Last updated

Ten referendums were held in Switzerland in 1976. [1] The first two were held on 21 March on popular initiatives "for employees' participation" (with a counter-proposal; both were rejected), and "for taxation reform" (also rejected). [2] The next three were held on 13 June on a federal law on spatial planning (rejected), a CHF 200 million loan to the International Development Association (rejected), and renewing unemployment insurance (approved). [2]

Contents

Two referendums were held on 26 September on an amendment to the Swiss Federal Constitution on broadcasting (rejected) and a popular initiative "for liability insurance by the union for motor vehicles and bicycless" (rejected). The final three referendums were held on 5 December on monetary policy (approved), price monitoring (approved) and a popular initiative to introduce a 40-hour working week (rejected).

Results

March: Employees' participation

ChoicePopular initiativeCounterproposal
Popular voteCantonsPopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotalVotes%FullHalfTotal
For472,09432.4000431,69029.6000
Against966,14066.319622974,69566.9000
No answer19,7251.451,5743.5
Blank votes15,19815,198
Invalid votes6,2486,248
Total1,479,405100196221,479,40510019622
Registered voters/turnout3,750,16239.43,750,16239.4
Source: Direct Democracy

March: Taxation reform

ChoiceVotes%
For599,05342.2
Against819,83057.8
Blank votes53,291
Invalid votes1,911
Total1,474,085100
Registered voters/turnout3,750,16239.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: Spatial planning

ChoiceVotes%
For626,13448.9
Against654,23351.1
Blank votes17,061
Invalid votes1,237
Total1,298,665100
Registered voters/turnout3,756,47434.6
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: General tariff

ChoiceVotes%
For646,68748.2
Against694,25251.8
Blank votes26,004
Invalid votes1,589
Total1,368,532100
Registered voters/turnout3,756,47434.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

June: Unemployment insurance

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For866,21168.318621
Against402,55031.7101
Blank votes26,901
Invalid votes1,312
Total1,296,97410019622
Registered voters/turnout3,756,47434.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Constitutional amendment on broadcasting

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For531,32843.3313.5
Against696,03956.716518.5
Blank votes33,027
Invalid votes1,586
Total1,261,98010019622
Registered voters/turnout3,766,16133.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

September: Liability insurance

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For301,58724.3000
Against939,71375.719622
Blank votes20,543
Invalid votes1,355
Total1,263,19810019622
Registered voters/turnout3,766,16133.5
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Monetary policy

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For1,108,41370.319622
Against467,25329.7000
Blank votes112,847
Invalid votes2,998
Total1,691,51110019622
Registered voters/turnout3,772,46644.8
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: Price monitoring

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For1,365,78882.019622
Against299,36718.0000
Blank votes32,177
Invalid votes2,286
Total1,699,61810019622
Registered voters/turnout3,772,46645.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

December: 40-hour working week

ChoicePopular voteCantons
Votes%FullHalfTotal
For370,22822.0000
Against1,315,82278.019622
Blank votes15,309
Invalid votes2,140
Total1,703,49910019622
Registered voters/turnout3,772,46645.2
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Related Research Articles

Three referendums were held in Switzerland during 1925. The first was held on 24 May on a popular initiative calling for insurance for invalidity, old age and bereavement, and was rejected by voters. The second was held on 25 October on a federal resolution on the settlement and residence of foreigners, and was approved by a majority of voters and cantons. The third was held on 6 December on a federal resolution on insurance for invalidity, old age and bereavement, and was also approved by a majority of voters and cantons.

Four referendums were held in Switzerland during 1939. The first two were held on 22 January on a popular initiative on civil rights and a federal resolution on the restricted use of the urgency clause in the constitution. The third was held on 4 June on a constitutional amendment regarding the funding for government policies on defence and unemployment, and was approved by voters. The fourth was held on 3 December on a federal law on the employment status and insurance for federal civil servants, and was rejected by voters.

Three referendums were held in Switzerland during 1947. The first was held on 18 May on a popular initiative for "economic reform and rights concerning work", and was rejected by voters. The second and third were both held on 6 July on revising the articles of the federal constitution covering the economy and a federal law on aged and bereavement insurance. Both were approved by voters.

Four referendums were held in Switzerland in 1974. The first was held on 20 October on a popular initiative "against foreign infiltration and overpopulation", and was rejected by voters. The next three were held on 8 December on an amendment to the federal budget (rejected), restricting federal expenditure (approved) and a popular initiative on social health insurance.

Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1977. The first three were held on 13 March on popular initiatives on foreign infiltration, limiting naturalisation and changing the rules on referendums on treaties. All three were rejected, whilst the counter-proposal was approved. The next two were held on 12 June on changes to sales tax and direct federal taxation (rejected) and on tax harmonisation (approved).

Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1978. The first four were held on 26 February on a popular initiative "for more co-decisions of the Federal Assembly and the People on national road making" (rejected), an amendment to the federal law on aged and bereaved insurance (approved), a popular initiative to lower the retirement age (rejected) and amending the article on the economic cycle in the Swiss Federal Constitution (approved). The next five referendums were held on 28 May on a law on time (rejected), an amendment to the tariff law (approved), a new federal law banning abortion (rejected), a federal law on promoting research and universities (rejected) and a popular initiative "for 12 Sundays a year free from motor vehicles" (rejected).

Ten referendums were held in Switzerland in 1984. The first three were held on 26 February on introducing tolls for HGVs (approved), introducing tolls for national routes (approved) and a popular initiative "for a real civilian service based on a proof through demonstration" (rejected). The next two were held on 20 May on popular initiatives "against the abuse of bank client confidentiality and bank power" (rejected) and "against the sellout of the homeland" (rejected).

Eleven referendums were held in Switzerland during 2001. The first three were held on 4 March on popular initiatives on joining the European Union, lowering medicine prices and lowering the urban speed limit to 30 km/h in most places. All three were rejected by voters. The next three referendums were held on 10 June on two separate amendments to the federal law on the Swiss army and on a federal resolution on abolishing the requirement for a permit to establish a diocese, all of which were approved.

Twelve referendums were held in Switzerland in 1985. The first four were held on 10 March on abolishing primary school fees (approved), abolishing the government contribution to healthcare spending (approved), a federal resolution on education fees (rejected) and a popular initiative on extending paid leave (rejected). The next set of four was held on 9 June on the "right to life" popular initiative (rejected), abolishing the cantonal share of profits from banks' stamp duty (approved), a federal resolution on the taxation raised from the sale of spirits (approved), and the abolition of grants for the self-supply of breadstuffs (approved).

Six referendums were held in Switzerland in 1986. The first was held on 16 March on joining the United Nations, but was rejected by 76% of voters. The next three were held on 29 September on popular initiatives on culture and vocational education and a federal resolution on the domestic sugar economy. All three were rejected, including the counter-proposal to the culture initiative.

Seven referendums were held in Switzerland in 1987. The first four were held on 5 April on amendments to the laws on asylum and foreign residents, a popular initiative "for the people's co-determination of military expenditure" (rejected) and a federal resolution on the voting system for popular initiatives that also have counter-proposals (approved).

Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1992. The first two were held on 16 February on popular initiatives "for a financially bearable health insurance" and "for the drastic and stepwise limitation of animal experiments." Both were rejected by voters. The next seven were held on 17 May on joining and contributing to the Bretton Woods system, a federal law on water protection (approved), a popular initiative "for the recovery of our waters" (rejected), a federal resolution on the popular initiative "against the malpractice of gene technology on humans" (approved), a federal resolution on creating a civilian service alternative to military service (approved) and a change to the Strafgesetzbuch and the Military and Penal Codes on sexual integrity (approved).

Seven referendums were held in Switzerland during 1995. The first four were held on 12 March on a federal resolution on the popular initiative "for an environmentally sound and efficient peasant farming" (rejected), on a resolution on dairy farming (rejected), an amendment to the farming law (rejected) and a federal resolution on spending (approved).

Sixteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1993. The first three were held on 7 March on a federal law to raise fuel taxes (approved), a federal resolution on lifting the ban on gambling establishments (approved) and a popular initiative on banning animal testing (rejected). The next two were held on 6 June on two popular initiatives; "40 military training areas are enough–environment projection at military" and "for a Switzerland without new warplanes". Both were rejected by voters.

Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2004. The first three were held on 8 February on a counter proposal to the popular initiative "for safe and efficient motorways" (rejected), an amendment to the Obligations (tenancy) law (rejected) and a popular initiative "life-long custody for non-curable, extremely dangerous sexual and violent criminals" (approved). The second set of three was held on 16 May on a revision of the federal law on Aged and Bereaved insurance, a federal resolution on financing the Aged and Bereaved insurance, and a federal law that would affect taxation for married couples, families, private housing and stamp duty, all of which were rejected.

Eight referendums were held in Switzerland during 2002. The first two were held on 3 March on popular initiatives for Switzerland to join the United Nations and to reduce working hours. UN membership was approved, whilst the shorter working hours proposal was rejected. The next two were held on 2 June on amending the penal code regarding abortion, which was approved, and a popular initiative "for mother and child", which was rejected.

Five referendums were held in Switzerland during 1997. The first three were held on 8 June on two popular initiatives "EU accession talks in front of the people" and "for a ban on arms exports" and a federal resolution on ending the federal monopoly on producing and selling gunpowder. The two popular initiatives were both rejected, whilst the end of the gunpowder monopoly was approved.

Thirteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 1994. The first five were held on 20 February on federal resolutions on roadbuilding, continuing existing truck tolls and varying tolls based on engine power or mileage, as well as a popular initiative "for the protection of the alpine region from through traffic" and an amendment to the aeronautical law. All five were approved by voters. The second set of referendums was held on 12 June on federal resolutions on an article on the Swiss Federal Constitution on the promotion of culture and a review of the procedure for naturalising young immigrants, as well as a federal law on Swiss troops in peacekeeping operations. Whilst the resolutions were both approved by a majority of voters, they did not receive the approval from the majority of cantons, so were rejected, as was the law on troops.

Ten referendums were held in Switzerland during 1998. The first three were held on 7 June on a federal resolution on a balanced budget and two popular initiatives "for the protection of life and environment against genetic engineering " and "Switzerland without secret police". Whilst the balanced budget proposal was approved, both popular initiatives were rejected by voters. The next three referendums were held on 27 September on a federal law on truck tolls based on engine size and two popular initiatives "for well-priced foodstuffs and ecological farms" and "10th revision of the Aged and Bereaved Insurance without raising the retirement age". Whilst the toll law was approved, both initiatives were rejected.

Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2000. The first five were held on 12 March on reforming the judiciary and four popular initiatives; "for speeding up direct democracy ", "for a just representation of women in federal authorities", "for the protection of men against manipulations in procreation technology" and one to reduce motorised road by 50%. Whilst the judiciary reform was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected. The next referendum was held on 21 May to authorise sectoral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, and was approved by around two-thirds of voters.

References

  1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, pp1923–1924 ISBN   9783832956097
  2. 1 2 Nohlen & Stöver, p1923