Fourteen referendums were held in
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
in 1977.
[ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', pp1924–1925 ] The first three were held on 13 March on
popular initiatives
In political science, an initiative (also known as a popular initiative or citizens' initiative) is a means by which a petition signed by a certain number of registered voters can force a government to choose either to enact a law or hold a pu ...
on foreign infiltration, limiting
naturalisation and changing the rules on referendums on treaties (which also had a counter-proposal). All three were rejected, whilst the counter-proposal was approved.
[Nohlen & Stöver, p1924] The next two were held on 12 June on changes to sales tax and direct federal taxation (rejected) and on tax harmonisation (approved).
[
The next set of referendums was held on 25 September on popular initiatives on protecting tenants (rejected, with a counter-proposal also rejected), air pollution caused by motor vehicles (rejected), and a law allowing ]abortion
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
in the first trimester of pregnancy (rejected), as well as on two government proposals to raise the number of signatures required for optional referendums (approved) and popular initiatives (approved).[
The final four referendums were held on 4 December on a popular initiative on a ]wealth tax
A wealth tax (also called a capital tax or equity tax) is a tax on an entity's holdings of assets. This includes the total value of personal assets, including cash, bank deposits, real estate, assets in insurance and pension plans, ownershi ...
(rejected) and three federal law on political rights (approved), creating a civilian alternative to military service (rejected) and on balancing the federal budget (approved).[Nohlen & Stöver, p1925]
Results
March: Foreign infiltration
March: Limiting naturalisation
March: Changes to treaty referendums
June: Changes to sales tax and direct federal tax
June: Tax harmonisation
September: Protection of tenants
September: Air pollution
September: Increasing the number of signatures required for optional referendums
September: Increasing the number of signatures required for popular initiatives
September: Abortion
December: Wealth tax
December: Political rights
December: Civilian service
December: Balancing the federal budget
References
{{Portal bar, Politics, Switzerland
1977 referendums
1977 in Switzerland
Referendums in Switzerland
Abortion referendums