Political identity came to the territory now occupied by the Principality of Liechtenstein in 814, with the formation of the subcountry of Lower Rhætia. Liechtenstein's borders have remained unchanged since 1434, when the Rhine established the border between the Holy Roman Empire and the Swiss cantons.
A constitutional referendum regarding the Prince’s powers was held in Liechtenstein on 14 March 2003. The referendum had two questions: a "Princely Initiative" and a "Constitution Peace Initiative". The first question passed with 64.32% in favour and the second question was rejected by 83.44% of voters.
Five referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1992. The first was held on 15 March on whether referendums should be introduced to approve international treaties, and was approved by 71.4% of voters. The second on 28 June concerned lowering the voting age from 20 to 18, but was rejected by 56.3% of voters. Two were held on 8 November on abolishing the 8% electoral threshold and adding a clause to the constitution banning discrimination, both of which were rejected. The fifth and final referendum on 13 December was on joining the European Economic Area. It was approved by 55.8% of voters, with a voter turnout of 87%.
A referendum on the introduction of women's suffrage in national elections was held in Liechtenstein on 1 July 1984. Following the introduction of female suffrage in neighbouring Switzerland at the federal level after a referendum in 1971, Liechtenstein had been the only remaining European country to deny women the right to vote. Referendums had been held in 1968, 1971 and 1973, but on each occasion men had rejected its introduction, despite the support of newspapers and both major political parties. Nevertheless, some municipalities had since introduced female suffrage at a local level, starting with Vaduz in 1976, and women had been elected to the local councils of Vaduz and Gamprin in 1983.
A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 10 May 1981. Voters were asked whether they approved of amending article 46, which covered the number of seats in the Landtag, its membership and the electoral system. The proposal, which had been narrowly rejected in a 1975 referendum, was rejected by 52.9% of voters.
Two referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1947. The first was held on 10 January, on an initiative to reduce the rate of taxation, backdated to 1946, and was approved by 58.7% of voters. The second was held on 15 June concerning the law on power plants, and was approved by 91% of voters.
Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1961. The first was held on 12 March on the creation of a new tax law, and was approved by 66.7% of voters. The second was held on 8 August on an initiative on the law on land surveying, and was approved by 60.9% of voters. The third on 8 December was on an initiative on hunting law, and was approved by 51% of voters.
A double referendum on tax adjustment was held in Liechtenstein on 1 March 1970. Voters were asked whether they approved of a tax adjustment for local government and a counterproposal from the Landtag. The first proposal was approved by 67.6% of voters, whilst the Landtag counterproposal was rejected by 66.8% of voters.
Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1973. The first was held on 11 February on introducing women's suffrage, but was rejected by 55.9% of voters. The second was held on 14 October on changing the electoral system to a candidate-based proportional system one, and was approved by 55.8% of voters. The third on 14 October was on reducing the electoral threshold from 18% to 8%, and was approved by 67.9% of voters.
Two referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1975. The first was held on 2 March on reducing the amount of money distributed to local councils and was rejected by 56.8% of voters. The second was held on 30 November on amending article 46 of the constitution and was rejected by 50.3% of voters, a margin of 22 votes.
A double referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 7 September 1980. Voters were asked whether they approved of the construction of a House of Arts and a national conference centre. The House of Arts was approved by 50.4% of voters, whilst the conference centre was rejected by 52.9% of voters.
Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1988. The first two were held on 24 January and concerned increasing the number of members of the Landtag from 15 to 25 and a plan for company pensions. Both were approved by 51.7% of voters. The third was held on 2 October on the construction of the Gnalp-Steg tunnel and was approved by 55.1% of voters.
Four referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1989. The first two were held on 19 March and concerned introducing referendums to decide on international treaties and amending the health insurance law. The treaty proposal was rejected by 56.8% of voters, whilst the health insurance law was approved by 59%. The third and fourth were held on 3 December on amending the sections of the constitution regarding the control of the justice administration and minority rights. Both were approved by voters.
Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 2000. The first was held on 27 February on amending the law promoting cheap living, and was rejected by 66.3% of voters. The second was held on 18 June on the law on gaining and losing citizenship of the country, and was approved by 50.1% of voters, a margin of just 15 votes. The third on 24 September concerned an agreement with neighbouring Switzerland on performance related tax on heavy load traffic, and was approved by 71% of voters.
Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 2011. The first on approving the registered partnership law was held between 17 and 19 June, and was approved by 68.8% of voters. The law went into effect on 1 September. The second was held on 18 September on allowing abortion within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Prince Alois had threatened to veto the result of the referendum should it have turned out in favour, but ultimately it was rejected by voters. The third was on building a new national hospital in Vaduz was held on 30 October, and was also rejected.
A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 1 July 2012 concerning limiting the extensive veto powers held by the Prince of Liechtenstein. The proposals were rejected by 76% of voters.
The monarchy of Liechtenstein is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of Liechtenstein. The current monarch is Prince Hans-Adam II. The House of Liechtenstein, after which the sovereign principality was named in 1719, hails from Liechtenstein Castle in Lower Austria, which the family possessed from the middle of the twelfth century to the thirteenth century, and from 1807 onward. It is the only remaining European monarchy that practises strict agnatic primogeniture.
A referendum on building an approach road for an industrial zone in Schaan was held in Liechtenstein on 14 March 2010. The proposal was approved by 52% of voters.
A three-part referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 30 August 2020. Voters were asked whether they approve of an initiative proposing changes to the constitution to promote the equal representation of women in political bodies, a parliament law allowing dual citizenship for naturalised citizens, and a decision by the government to fund a railway line expansion. All three proposals were rejected.
A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 29 January 2023. Voters voted on a proposal to ban casinos, with 73% voting against the proposal. If a ban had been approved, casinos in Liechtenstein would have been closed and banned by 2028.
