Public initiatives are a form of direct democracy and the only way for the public to directly submit draft legislation. The two main avenues for doing so are legislative initiatives and legislative proposals.
The main difference between a legislative initiative and a legislative proposal lies in their submitters. In addition, a legislative initiative has the form of a draft law, while a legislative proposal is a general idea or concept of a law. The following entities/individuals are entitled to submit a draft law by means of a legislative initiative:
- Government of Georgia
- Member of Parliament (MP)
- Parliamentary Faction
- supreme representative body of Abkhazia and Adjara
- initiative group (after collecting no less than 30,000 voter signatures)
A legislative proposal can be submitted by an individual that does not have the right to propose a legislative initiative and, therefore, is not entitled to submit a draft law. A legislative proposal is submitted to the Parliament and contains a proposal on adoption, amendment or invalidation of a law.
An individual is also entitled to directly address an MP and introduce his or her idea of the draft law. In case of approval of the idea, the MP is entitled to use their right of a legislative initiative and submit the draft law to the Parliament.
Another mechanism for participation – submitting a petition, which is a written request of a group of individuals that concerns issues related to national or general problems.
Public initiatives & Human rights
Public initiatives are another form of direct democracy which allow the public to participate in the law-making process. They are closely associated with freedom of expression, and more so with the idea that the people in a democracy have equal rights to make law. However, this right can be restricted. Namely, to provide legitimacy to the legislative proposals, the right to propose a legislative initiative is usually limited by the requirement that the initiative be backed by a significant proportion of the electorate. If your right to submit an initiative has been unlawfully or unjustifiably restricted, it may result in interference with or violation of your freedom of expression.
About this section
This section of the Guide will explain what the main forms of public initiative are, the criteria with which they need to comply, how they may be submitted, as well as how to complain if your right to submit an initiative has been violated.