Table 3.5 Popular referenda and initiatives at the federal level, 1848-1990
Obligatory referenda: Went to a vote 148 Accepted by the cantons and the people 104 Refused 44 Popular initiatives: Proposals handed in 183 Withdrawn or lapsed 64 Pending in 1990 15 Initiatives proceeded to a vote 104 Initiatives accepted 10 Initiatives refused 94 Counterproposals proceeded to a vote 27 Counterproposals accepted 18 Counterproposals refused 9 Optional referenda: Bills subject to referendum 1506 Challenges by referendum 103 Parliamentary bill successful 45 Challenge by referendum successful 58 Source: Hans Peter Hertig, 'Volksabstimmungen', in Handbuch Politisches System der Schweiz, Band II (Bern: 1984), and own calculations.