Step 1: CIR

What is CIR?

In modern democratic systems, constitutional change and major law reform are usually controlled by political parties and elected representatives. Citizens Initiated Referendums (CIR) were designed to bridge that gap by allowing the people to directly propose and vote on changes to laws and constitutional matters. However, traditional CIR systems still rely on slow, infrequent “big bang” elections and limited participation windows.

With a secure digital voting system, democracy can move beyond this model. Instead of waiting years between elections or referendums, citizens gain the ability to vote on any issue, at any level of government, at any time. This creates a continuous form of democracy where decision-making power remains with the people between elections, not just during them.

Why CIR is Important

  1. Direct Democracy: CIR reshapes the political landscape by enhancing the directness of democracy. It empowers everyday people to influence laws and policies directly, circumventing the usual obstacles of representative political systems.
  2. Accountability: It holds governments accountable. When citizens can initiate referendums, politicians are more likely to act in the public’s interest, knowing that their decisions can be directly challenged by the populace.
  3. Transparency: By involving the public in legislative processes, CIR promotes transparency, reducing the likelihood of backroom deals and ensuring that changes reflect public will rather than partisan interests.

How CIR Works:

This is the system currently available to the people through Section 128 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, but it is slow and it does not guarantee that the Parliament will accept any proposal for change:

  1. Proposal: A citizen, or a group of citizens, can draft a proposal for a law or constitutional amendment.
  2. Collection of Signatures: This proposal needs to gather a significant number of signatures from the electorate to show widespread support. The exact number can vary but is typically a percentage of the voting population.
  3. Referendum: Once the required signatures are collected, the proposal goes to a public vote. If approved by a majority, it becomes law or an amendment to the constitution.
  4. Implementation: The government must then implement the changes as voted by the people.

FuturePlan Proposes a different method to give people a voice:

Why CIR Matters

Direct Democratic Control

CIR and a digital voting app ensure that citizens are not limited to choosing representatives every few years. Instead, they can directly propose and vote on laws and constitutional changes, making democracy more immediate and responsive.

Continuous Accountability

When people can directly challenge or approve legislation, governments remain accountable at all times. Policies must reflect public will continuously, not just during election cycles.

Greater Transparency

By opening law-making to public participation, CIR reduces the influence of closed-door political negotiations and ensures that legislative outcomes reflect broad public support.

From CIR to Continuous Digital Democracy

A modern CIR system enhanced by a digital voting app transforms democracy from a periodic event into a continuous process.

Instead of waiting for major elections, citizens can:

  • Vote on issues as they arise
  • Participate in national, state, or local decisions in real time
  • Propose and repeal laws directly through a secure platform
  • Engage in governance from anywhere, at any time

This removes the dependence on “big bang” elections and replaces them with ongoing public participation in decision-making.

How CIR Works

1. Proposal

Any citizen or group can draft a proposal for a new law or constitutional amendment. They can then upload it to the voting app for people to vote on.

2. Signature Support

The proposal must gather a required threshold of verified public signatures to demonstrate widespread support.

3. Public Vote

Once validated, the proposal is sent to a public vote through the digital system.

4. Implementation

If approved by majority vote, the result becomes binding and must be implemented by government institutions.

International Examples

Switzerland

Switzerland is widely recognised for its strong system of direct democracy, where citizens regularly vote on referendums and policy decisions. Their system is very close to the FuturePlan proposal. Instead of Electorates, they have Cantons. But the mechanisms are almost identical. It’s been working in Switzerland for more than 100 years very successfully. There is no reason we cannot do the same for any other country.

United States

The United States uses a slightly different type of CIR using ballot initiatives and referendums in several states, allowing citizens to directly shape laws and constitutional changes.

Key Considerations

Education and Understanding

Citizens must have access to clear, unbiased information to ensure informed decision-making on complex issues.

Accessibility

The system must be accessible to all citizens, including those without digital access, ensuring no one is excluded from participation.

Security and Trust

Strong cybersecurity and verification systems are essential to protect the integrity of votes and maintain public confidence in the system.

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