Abstract

The institution of the propositional referendum is a distinguishing feature of Switzerland and the United States. It was while the Chamber was discussing proposals for introducing this instrument in Italy that the volume "Institutes of direct democracy in comparative law" was published. The interesting comparison emerging from this latter has once again confirmed the twofold contribution that comparative law can and does provide: it allows to "relativize" domestic law into force, without legitimizing the proposal of rushed transplants into different legal systems. On this basis, a critical analysis of the text approved in first reading in the Chamber is offered.