# Popular initiative "For democratic naturalisation" (2008) A thematic map of the Atlas of Switzerland, the national atlas published by ETH Zurich. The map is drawn in the browser; this file describes it and lists its variants and links, but not the data values shown on the map. - Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/popular-initiative-for-democratic-naturalisation-2008/ - Short title: Naturalisation Initiative (2008) - Map id: 701 - Categories: State and Politics › Votes › Domestic policy - Keywords: naturalization, Politics - Published: 2019-12-04 - Last revised: 2020-09-10 - Content language: English - Other languages: [Deutsch](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/de/thema/volksinitiative-fuer-demokratische-einbuergerungen-2008.md), [Français](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/fr/theme/initiative-populaire-pour-des-naturalisations-democratiques-2008.md), [Italiano](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/it/tema/iniziativa-popolare-per-naturalizzazioni-democratiche-2008.md) ## Description ### The proposal Municipal citizenship is an important first step towards obtaining a Swiss passport. The popular initiative “For democratic naturalization” aims to empower municipalities to independently determine the procedures and responsibilities for granting municipal citizenship. The resulting popular votes on naturalization would be final and therefore no longer subject to judicial review. Foreigners who wish to become naturalized and thus Swiss citizens must meet the requirements of their canton of residence, municipality of residence, and the federal government. The naturalization procedure is determined by the cantons or, if provided for in cantonal law, by the municipalities. There is no right to naturalization unless the cantons expressly provide for this. Rejected naturalization applications can be challenged in court, and in cases of suspected violations of fundamental rights such as discrimination or violation of the right to a fair hearing, even before the Federal Supreme Court. The popular initiative seeks to change this system of jurisdiction and demands that - the municipalities be able to decide autonomously which body may grant municipal citizenship; - a decision on naturalization made by this body is final and can no longer be challenged. The popular initiative is a reaction to two Federal Supreme Court rulings from 2003 that impose an obligation on municipalities to initiate constitutional review proceedings. ### Results The initiative was rejected by the electorate and the cantons. Voter turnout: 45.2% Votes in favour: 36.2% ## Sources - Federal Chancellery (2008): Vote documentation ## Data sources - Atlas of Switzerland (2010): [Basiskarte 1:500.000](http://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/) - Atlas of Switzerland: [Administrative Einheiten 1:500.000 (Gemeinden, Bezirke, Kantone)](http://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/) - FSO (2019): [Volksabstimmungen (Ergebnisse Ebene Gemeinde seit 1981)](https://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/pxweb/de/px-x-1703030000_101/-/px-x-1703030000_101.px) - swisstopo [J160089] (2010): [Gemeindegrenzen GG25](https://shop.swisstopo.admin.ch/de/products/landscape/boundaries3D) - swisstopo [J160089] (2010): [Landeskarte 1:500.000](https://shop.swisstopo.admin.ch/de/products/maps/national/lk500) ## Data owners - [Atlas of Switzerland (AoS)](http://www.atlasderschweiz.ch/) - [Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO)](https://www.bfs.admin.ch/) - [Swiss Federal Office of Topography (swisstopo)](http://www.swisstopo.admin.ch/) - [Federal Chancellery](http://www.admin.ch) ## Citation The terms of use ask to name the Atlas of Switzerland and the data owners, and to keep the source references in exports, screenshots and embeds. Cite the map as: > Atlas of Switzerland (2020): Popular initiative "For democratic naturalisation" (2008). ETH Zürich. Map data © AoS, FSO, swisstopo, Federal Chancellery. https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/popular-initiative-for-democratic-naturalisation-2008/ ## Variants The map has 2 variants. Levels: spatial unit → time. The `u` value of a variant selects it in the links below. - Cantons - 2008: `u=AAcAAwAA` (default) - Communes - 2008: `u=AAcABQAA` ## Links Replace `{u}` with the `u` value of a variant above, or leave out `u={u}` for the default variant. The map opens at its full extent; a link cannot set the map position. - Map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/popular-initiative-for-democratic-naturalisation-2008/?u={u} - Short link, stays valid when the title changes: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/t/701/?u={u} - Side by side with another map: https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/comparison/?lt=701&lu={u}&rt={id of the other map}&ru={u of the other map, or leave out} Embed in another website (allowed by the terms of use, as long as the source references stay visible): ```html ``` In the embed URL, `dm` sets what is shown: `e` the map with its title bar (default), `p` also the values of an object clicked on the map, `m` only the map with a button that opens it in the atlas. `ig=1` (default) lets the map react to scrolling and dragging only after a click into it, `ig=0` right away. The size can be changed in `style`. ## Related maps - [Party strength of the most dominant party](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/party-strength-of-the-most-dominant-party.md) (id 682) - [Popular initiative on the expulsion of foreign criminals (2010)](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/popular-initiative-on-the-expulsion-of-foreign-criminals-2010.md) (id 710) - [Percentage of votes for the Swiss People's Party (SVP)](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/theme/percentage-of-votes-for-the-swiss-peoples-party-svp.md) (id 670) For the use and citation of maps and data, see the [terms of use](https://atlasderschweiz.ch/en/terms-of-use/).