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A constitutional referendum was held in Morocco on 23 May 1980. [1] The referendum asked whether voters approved of changes to article 21 of the 1972 constitution, which concerned the Regency Council, and reduced the age of majority for the King from 18 to 16. [2] The changes were approved by 99.6% of voters, with a 96.8% turnout. [3] A second referendum was held a week later on articles 43 and 95.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 6,849,813 | 99.6 |
| Against | 25,891 | 0.4 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 27,013 | - |
| Total | 6,902,717 | 100 |
| Source: Nohlen et al. | ||
Referendums in the United Kingdom are occasionally held at a national, regional or local level. Historically, national referendums are rare due to the long-standing principle of parliamentary sovereignty. There is no constitutional requirement to hold a national referendum for any purpose or on any issue however the UK Parliament is free to legislate through an Act of Parliament for a referendum to be held on any question at any time.
In Australia, referendums are public votes held on important issues where the electorate may approve or reject a certain proposal. The term is commonly used in reference to a constitutional referendum which is legally required to make a change to the Constitution of Australia.
A constitutional referendum was held in France on 5 May 1946. Voters were asked whether they approved of a new draft Constitution proposed by the Constituent Assembly elected in 1945.
A referendum to approve the Évian Accords ending the Algerian War and granting self-determination to Algeria was held in France on 8 April 1962. It was approved by 90.8% of voters with a 75.3% turnout.
A referendum on the future of the Soviet Union was held on 17 March 1991 across the Soviet Union. It was the only national referendum in the history of the Soviet Union, although it was boycotted by authorities in six of the fifteen Soviet republics.
A constitutional referendum was held in Morocco on 24 July 1970. The new constitution replaced that approved by referendum in 1962, but suspended by King Hassan II in 1965 following riots in Casablanca. It was approved by 98.8% of voters, with a 93.2% turnout. Following its approval, fresh elections were held on 21 August.
A constitutional referendum was held in Morocco on 1 March 1972. The new constitution replaced that approved by referendum in 1970, and was drawn up after an attempted coup in July 1971 forced King Hassan II to accept the need for a broader government.
A constitutional referendum was held in Morocco on 30 May 1980. The referendum asked whether voters approved of changes to articles 43 and 95 of the 1972 constitution, which would extend the mandate of Parliament from four to six years. The changes were approved by 96.7% of voters, with a 90.8% turnout.
A referendum on the Arabic–African Federation Treaty was held in Morocco on 31 August 1984. The treaty would create a union of states between Morocco and Libya as part of a first step towards a "Great Arab Maghreb". It was approved by 99.98% of voters, with a 97% turnout.
A referendum on extending the parliamentary mandate was held in Morocco on 1 December 1989. As elections had been held in 1984, the six-year term for Parliament due to expire in 1990. The decision was approved by 100% of voters, with a 98.8% turnout.
A constitutional referendum was held in Morocco on 4 September 1992. The amended constitution increased the number of seats in the Parliament from 306 to 333, with the number of directly elected seats rising from 204 to 222. It also allowed the Prime Minister to appoint the rest of the cabinet, and for legislation to be promulgated a month after being passed by the Parliament, regardless of whether the monarch had given assent. The changes were approved by 99.96% of voters, with 100% voting in favour in major cities and three of the four provinces in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Voter turnout was reported to be 97.29%. Fresh elections were held the following year.
A constitutional referendum was held in Morocco on 13 September 1996. The new constitution created a bicameral Parliament by adding the Assembly of Councillors to the existing Assembly of Representatives. The 270-seat Assembly of Councillors would be indirectly elected by local councillors, chambers of commerce (81), and trade unions (27), whilst the 325-seat Assembly of Representatives would now be entirely directly elected. The changes were approved by 99.5% of voters, with an 85% turnout. Fresh elections were held the following year.
A constitutional referendum was held in Morocco on 15 September 1995. The amendment was made in order to change the date on which the annual Finance Act must be passed. It was approved by 99.6% of voters, with a 70.2% turnout.
A referendum on constitutional reforms was held in Morocco on 1 July 2011. It was called in response to a series of protests across Morocco that began on 20 February 2011 when over ten thousand Moroccans participated in demonstrations demanding democratic reforms. A commission was to draft proposals by June 2011. A draft released on 17 June foresaw the following changes:
A referendum on the length of the term of Parliament was held in New Zealand on 23 September 1967. Voters were asked whether they approved of extending the term from three to four years. The change was rejected by 68.1% of voters, with a turnout of 69.7%.
The Constitution of Morocco is the supreme law of the Kingdom of Morocco. The constitution defines Morocco as a constitutional monarchy and lays out the fundamental rights of Moroccan citizens, it also defines the basis and structures of government, the council of ministers, and the parliament.
Two referendums were held in Switzerland in January and May 1879. A federal law on subsidies for railways in the Alps was passed by 70.7% of voters on 19 January, whilst a referendum on abolishing the constitutional ban on the death penalty on 18 May was passed by 52.5% of voters and a majority of cantons. Following the vote, ten of the 26 cantons reintroduced the death penalty during the 1880s and 1890s and nine executions occurred before its nationwide abolition in 1938, when a new criminal code was approved in a referendum.
Two referendums were held in Switzerland in 1887. The first was held on 15 May, asking voters whether they approved of a federal law on spirits, and was approved by 65.9% of voters. The second was held on 10 July, asking voters whether they approved of an amendment made to article 64 of the federal constitution, and was approved by 77.9% of voters and 20.5 cantons.
Eleven national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2013. Voters approved six proposals related to spatial planning, executive pay, family policy, amendments to the laws on asylum and epidemics and an increase in the length of petrol station shop opening hours. The other five proposals on directly electing the Federal Council, abolishing compulsory military service, limiting salaries in a company to 12 times the lowest paid worker, tax credits for stay-at-home parents and an increase in road tax were rejected.
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This article summarises referendum laws and practice in various countries.
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