A referendum on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was held in Spain on Sunday, 20 February 2005. The question asked was "Do you approve of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe?". The consultative referendum on ratification of the proposed Constitution for the European Union was approved by 81.8% of valid votes, although turnout was just 41.8%, the lowest since the end of the Franco era.
A constitutional referendum was held in Niger on 4 August 2009. The referendum proposed the dissolution of the Fifth Republic and the creation of the Sixth Republic under a fully presidential system of government, offering a yes or no vote on the suspension of the constitution and granting President Mamadou Tandja a three-year interim government, during which the constitution of the Sixth Republic would be formulated. On 20 June, the Constitutional Court declared the plan illegal, but Tandja subsequently assumed emergency powers and dissolved the Court. The events surrounding this election led to a constitutional crisis.
A referendum on political reform was held in Spain on Wednesday, 15 December 1976, to gauge support for either the ratification or repealing of the Political Reform Act which had been approved by the Spanish Cortes on 18 November 1976. The question asked was "Do you approve of the Political Reform Bill?". The referendum resulted in 97.4% of valid votes in support of the bill on a turnout of 77.7%.
The Constitution of 1925 was the constitution in force in Chile between 1925 and 1973 when the Government Junta suspended it. In the 1920s Chile had a severe social and economic crisis that led to the loss of prestige for old ruling class, labeled oligarchy in Chilean historiography, and the rise of a more sensibilized populist government led by Arturo Alessandri. In 1924 Alessandri was outed in a coup, but was called back in 1925 to complete his mandate. Alessandri then used his presidency to draft a new constitution to replace the Constitution of 1833. The constitution was approved by plebiscite by 134,421 voters on August 30 of 1925. Prominent features of the constitution were:
A referendum on the new constitution or organic law was held in Spain on 14 December 1966, with all Spaniards over age 21 being allowed to participate. The question asked was "Do you approve of the Organic Law of the State Bill?". It was reportedly approved by 98.1% of valid votes on a turnout of 88.8%.
A two-part referendum was held in Guam on 4 August 1979. A proposed new constitution was rejected by 82% of voters, whilst a law introducing the death penalty was rejected by 53% of voters. In August 1987 a referendum was held on another proposed constitution, with each chapter voted on separately. Two chapters were rejected by voters, resulting in a second referendum in November in which both were approved.
A twenty-three-part referendum was held in Palau on 4 November 2008 alongside the country's general elections. Voters were asked questions on requirements of citizenship to hold office, government provision of primary school and health care, the definition of marriage and term limits for Parliament. Only the proposal permitting naturalization for certain adoptees failed to obtain the requisite majority of the vote and majority in 3/4th of the states.
A referendum on Chile's provisional constitution was held on 27 October 1812. The provisional constitution, which was successfully adopted, was written by dictator José Miguel Carrera's administration. In the document, Chile declared itself sovereign, but recognized Ferdinand VII of Spain. It prohibited the then-current junta government from performing foreign commands, established a Senate with seven members, permitted only Roman Catholicism as the public and private religion, but recognized a number of other personal rights and freedoms.
A referendum on Chile's independence was held on 15 November 1817. After the Battle of Chacabuco, Bernardo O'Higgins was appointed director supremo. He held a plebiscite to test the popular will. This independence proposal passed with a large majority. His political program confirmed, O'Higgins's administration declared independence on 16 February 1818.
A referendum on Chile's provisional constitution was held on 23 October 1818. The provisional constitution, which was successfully adopted, was written by the legislative council at Bernardo O'Higgins's request. The resulting document included 141 articles. It established a Director Supremo with an unlimited term of office who would appoint all judges, governors, offices and secretaries. The Director Supremo could also appoint five members and five alternate members in the senate. The Senate was granted some limited power to veto actions of the Director Supremo. This provisional constitution also established three provinces with governors, and specified that Catholicism was the only legal religion. This provisional document was approved, but was replaced with a permanent constitution in 1822.
A series of unofficial referendums on native rights and good governance was held in Mexico on 21 March 1999. It was organised by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), who proposed the government function in the interests of the people, that the country demilitarize in order to promote peace, that indigenous Mexicans be fully included in national life and have their rights recognized in the constitution. While all these measures passed overwhelmingly, only around 2.5 million people voted in the referendum, while 37 million people voted in the general election the following year.
A series of unofficial referendums on elections, political reforms and electoral participation was held in Mexico on 27 August 1995. It was organised by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), who proposed a detailed reform for democratization, that the country engage in free and reformed elections and that the EZLN convert itself into a political party and form a united front with other opposition parties. Another referendum question sought to establish equality for women in government and administration. All these measures passed, but this unofficial referendum appears to have had little effect on Mexican governance.
A series of referendums on the definition of the Marshall Islands and its constitution was held in the Marshall Islands on 11 December 1990. Voters were asked to approve provisions designating the Marshall Islands as a republic and an archipelago. Other proposals concerned amendments guaranteeing the validity of the constitution throughout the whole archipelago and the process by which amendments enter into force. All of the measures passed and were adopted.
A package of constitutional reforms proposed by the Constitutional Council was held in the Marshall Islands in April 1995. In 1994 the Nitijela voted to create a Constitutional Council which would propose a raft of constitutional changes and reforms. The Council submitted thirty-five proposals, each of which had to attain a two-thirds majority of valid votes in order to pass. Turnout was low at 33%, and only a measure establishing the Marshallese language version of the constitution passed. All other proposals failed to reach the two-thirds bar, and thus failed.
A referendum on sessions of Fono was held in American Samoa on 7 November 1978. Voters were asked to approve a proposed amendment which would elongate sessions of Fono from 30 days to 45 days. The measure was approved and entered into law.
A referendum on a new constitution was held in American Samoa on 4 November 1986. Voters were asked to approve a proposed constitution developed by a Constitutional Council. The measure failed and the 1960 constitution remained in force.
A series of four referenda on casinos and senators was held in Guam on 5 November 1996. A reduction of the number of senators from 21 to 15 passed, but proposed term limits for senators failed. Voters approved a measure limiting the budget for parliamentary business to 2.5% of the national budget, and rejected a proposal to permit casinos to open on the island.
A referendum on constitutional reform was held in Mexico on 22 September 1867. After the execution of the Emperor Maximilian, reinstated President Benito Juárez adopted a decree on 14 August 1867 that called for general elections and five constitutional reforms:
A referendum on the approval of the Catalan Statute of Autonomy was held in Catalonia on Sunday, 2 August 1931. Voters were asked whether they ratified a proposed draft Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, also known as the "Statute of Núria". Article 12 of the Spanish Constitution of 1931 allowed for Spanish provinces to be organized into "autonomous regions", provided that a regional Statute was proposed by a majority of the provinces' municipalities comprising at least two-thirds of the provincial population and that two-thirds majority of all those eligible to vote accepted the draft Statute.
A statutory referendum on the approval of the Basque Statute of Autonomy was held in the Basque Country on Sunday, 5 November 1933. Voters were asked whether they ratified a proposed draft Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country. Article 12 of the Spanish Constitution of 1931 allowed for Spanish provinces to be organized into "autonomous regions", provided that a regional Statute was proposed by a majority of the provinces' municipalities comprising at least two-thirds of the provincial population and that two-thirds majority of all those eligible to vote accepted the draft Statute.
