Mandatory referendums in Switzerland

[1] This type of referendum is utilized after an item has been passed by parliament and is then put to a vote.

In contrast, an optional referendum is only held after a certain number of citizens or cantons request it.

Article 140 paragraph 2[3] of the Federal Constitution mandates that only the people vote on certain matters, primarily as a component of the procedure for the comprehensive revision of the Federal Constitution.

[4] At the cantonal level, each federated state's constitution regulates which matters necessitate a mandatory referendum.

Nonetheless, all cantons must subject the revision of their constitution to a mandatory referendum (article 51[5]).