en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_democracy
3 corrections found
the boulê, composed of 5000 citizens
The Athenian boule was the Council of 500, not 5,000. Standard reference works describe it as a 500-member council chosen by lot.
Full reasoning
This is a numerical error. In classical Athens, the boulē was the Council of 500 citizens, not 5,000. World History Encyclopedia’s overview of Athenian democracy states that “the boulē or council was composed of 500 citizens,” and Britannica identifies it as the “Council of Five Hundred.” Those sources directly contradict the article’s statement that the boule was composed of 5,000 citizens.
2 sources
- Athenian Democracy - World History Encyclopedia
The boulē or council was composed of 500 citizens who were chosen by lot and who served for one year...
- Council of Five Hundred | Britannica
Council of Five Hundred, boule or deliberative council in ancient Athens...
but at least 1,500 citizens must vote affirmative
In Liechtenstein, 1,500 citizens is the signature threshold to demand certain referendums, not a minimum number of affirmative votes required for passage.
Full reasoning
This sentence misstates how Liechtenstein’s referendum thresholds work. Official information from the Liechtenstein National Administration says that for constitutional matters, a request for a referendum must be supported by at least 1,500 citizens entitled to vote (or four municipalities). The Constitution text reproduced by Constitute says the same: if a resolution concerns the Constitution, “the request must be made by at least 1,500 Liechtenstein citizens eligible to vote.” In other words, 1,500 is the petition threshold to trigger the referendum, not a rule that 1,500 citizens must cast yes votes for the measure to pass.
2 sources
- The referendum - Liechtenstein National Administration
In the case of the Constitution as a whole or individual parts thereof ... this request must be supported by at least 1,500 citizens of the Land entitled to vote or four municipalities.
- Liechtenstein 1921 (rev. 2011) Constitution - Constitute
If the resolution concerns the Constitution as a whole or individual parts thereof, the request must be made by at least 1,500 Liechtenstein citizens eligible to vote or by at least four municipalities.
It is utilized at the state level in nineteen states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and South Dakota.
This list is incorrect because Louisiana does not have a statewide citizen initiative process for constitutional amendments; Louisiana uses legislatively referred amendments.
Full reasoning
This sentence is false as written because it includes Louisiana among states that use a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment process. Recent 50-state research from the University of Wisconsin Law School states that in Louisiana, “legislatively referred amendments are the only form of statewide direct democracy available”. Time similarly reported that Louisiana is among the states that do not allow citizens to put forward statewide ballot initiatives. So Louisiana should not be listed as a state where constitutional amendments can be initiated by citizen petition.
2 sources
- Direct Democracy in the States: A 50-State Survey of the Journey to the Ballot | State Democracy Research Initiative – University of Wisconsin Law School
In Louisiana, legislatively referred amendments are the only form of statewide direct democracy available for the purposes of this report.
- ‘Such Small Steps.’ States Without Citizen-Led Ballot Initiatives Leave Abortion-Rights Advocates With Little Recourse | Time
But not all states allow citizens to put forward statewide ballot initiatives ... 'It essentially leaves us powerless ...' says Chasity Wilson, the executive director of the Louisiana Abortion Fund.