PARLIAMENT AND DEMOCRACY - Inter-Parliamentary Union

90 I PARLIAMENT AND DEMOCRACY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
Citizen involvement through political parties
The contemporary preoccupation with civil society and NGOs should not
lead us to overlook a more traditional way in which citizens have involved
themselves in the legislative process, and that is through membership of
political parties. Here the influence of party members has typically been
exercised through a number of channels: through candidate selection or voting
for leadership positions; through ongoing links with an individual representative
at constituency or district level; and through regional and national party
conferences and policy forums.
However, party membership figures in most western democracies are
currently in a process of long-term decline, which can in many cases be linked
to a decline in internal democracy within parties, and the marginalisation of
those who do not support the leadership line. Political parties have always had
to manage the potential divide in political views between their active members
and the voters whose support they need to win an election, but current modes
of doing so in many parties have not been conducive to attracting new members,
especially among a younger generation. Examples of party renewal can
be cited from one or two countries in most regions of the world, typically
associated with particular election campaigns; but a more widespread and
sustained renewal of the democratic base of political parties is overdue, given
their importance to the representative process.
Citizens’ initiatives and referendums
As a different means to bridge the gap between parliament and citizens, a
number of countries have introduced or considered introducing a right of
citizens’ initiative, whereby citizens may submit proposals for legislation
themselves directly, rather than merely proposals to amend or comment on
legislation already before parliament. In some respects the distinction implicit
here between a reactive and a proactive engagement of citizens may be overdrawn.
As we have seen, wherever there are ongoing arrangements for linking
a parliament with civil society groups, these will result in suggestions for new
or amended legislation, and these must count as a form of civic ‘initiative’.
The same is true wherever parliaments call for public debate on a subject or
hold enquiries on specific issues with a view to future legislation, as many now
do. However, the citizens’ initiative constitutes a distinctive right, and usually
depends upon the collection of a minimum number of signatures from the
electorate if it is to proceed.
A citizens’ initiative may be advisory on parliament or mandatory; alternatively,
it may lead to a popular referendum on the proposal. This latter is the