The Spanish Agenda Initiative and the Reform of Its Legal Regime: A New Chance for Participatory Democracy?

Abstract

In response to the pluralistic character of Spanish society and for the purpose of establishing a progressive democracy, the Spanish Constitution of 1978 opts, in its Article 87, for opening the law-making process to different subjects. The right of the legislative initiative belongs, of course, to the government of Spain and to the national parliament (Cortes Generales), but it is also extended to the parliaments of the Autonomous Communities and to the citizens through the iniciativa popular. However, regarding the legislative initiative of the Spanish citizens, the constitution imposed some significant restrictions: a high number of signatures needed to endorse bills, a list of issues explicitly excluded from popular demands and a mandate to the legislature to determine additional requirements.