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The democratic system creates a number of possibilities to influence the decisions of the authorities. Here are some examples:

Solecki fund (village fund)

Since 2014 the authorities of rural communitiesrural communityrural communities can allocate part of their budget to create a special fund. The residents of the community make the decision on how this fund will be spent by voting on various projects (also submitted by those residents) – they can build a playground for children, a bus sheltera bus sheltera bus shelter or plant bushes and flowers. You can find more information on the internet.

Participatory budget

For several years now, in many cities in Poland, the inhabitants can decide how to allocate part of a municipal budgeta municipal budgeta municipal budget. Participatory budgeting allows the inhabitants to identify, discuss, and prioritiseto prioritiseprioritise public spending projects, and gives them the power to make real decisions by voting about how money is spent. You can find more information on the internet.

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Infografika zatytułowana "From idea to reality: how to apply for participatory budget". Jej kolejne elementy są następujące: 1. Idea (obok grafika przedstawiająca żarówkę). 2. Project preparation in accordance with the participatory budgeting principles. 3. Selection of an adult project leader who will submit the project. Obok znajduje się uśmiechnięta postać. 4. Filling out of the application (on paper or online). Obok grafika długopisu i formularza. 5. Submitting the application to the municipal office. 6. The municipal office verifies the project. Obok grafika przedstawiająca dwa okienka, jedno powinno być zakreślone ptaszkiem. 7. Consultation and final verification of the project. Obok grafika dwóch dymków rozmowy. 8. Inhabitants' vote. 9. Implementation of the project, if it was selected.

Citizens’ initiative

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland a group of at least 100 000 citizens having the right to vote in elections to the Sejm has the right to introduce legislation. The introduced project, however, may not concern a draft budget, nor any changes to the Constitution. You can find more information on the Sejm website.

The European Citizens’ Initiative

Since April 1, 2012, EU citizens can submit their initiatives to the European Commission. The condition is to gain the support of at least one million European citizens from seven different EU member states within 12 months. The number of votes has to be certifiedcertifiedcertified by national offices, and then the European Commission analyzes the initiative, and decides what to do next: draw up a legislative proposalto draw up a legislative proposaldraw up a legislative proposal, conduct an additional study or take no action. Eventually, the European Citizens’ Initiative can result in new EU directives, strategies or regulations. The first ECI was the proposal “Right2Water – water is a human right”, which aims at guaranteeing water and sanitation for all in Europe. You can find more information on the internet).

Referendum

A referendum is a direct vote in which an entireentireentire electorate has the opportunity to decide on a particular proposal. There may be a local referendum (concerning, for example, the construction of a landfilllandfilllandfill or a sewage treatment plantsewage treatment plansewage treatment plant) or a nationwide referendum (concerning for example changes to the Constitution). There were five nationwidenationwidenationwide referendums in the history of the Third Republic of Poland so farso farso far. The highest turnout – 58,85% – was noted at the referendum on the Polish accession to the European Union in June 2003.

In democratic states, citizens have many ways to express their opinions. They can organise demonstrations, work‑to‑rule actions, write letters of protest and petitions or start a blog to gain support for their cause.

Keywords

solecki fund, participatory budget, citizens’ initiative, European Citizens’ Initiative, local/nationwide referendum, electorateelectorateelectorate, demonstration, work‑to‑rule actionwork‑to‑rule actionwork‑to‑rule action, letter of protest, petition

Glossary