Legal provisions for citizens' initiatives at national level

Political Constitution of Panama(Constitución Política de la República de Panam?)

https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Panama_2004.pdf

Citizen?s initiative

Article 314

A new Constitutionmay be adopted by a Parallel Constituent Assembly (Asamblea Constituyente

Paralela) whichmay be convened by decision of the Executive Branch, ratified by theLegislative

Branch withabsolute majority, or by the Legislative Branch with a favorable vote of twothirds of its members, or by popular initiative which must be signed by atleast twenty percent (20%) of citizens enrolled in the Electoral Register onthe thirty-first of December of the year preceding the initiative.

In the lattercase, the petitioners shall have six months to fulfill the requirement inconformity with

the rules issuedto this effect by the Electoral Tribunal.

The ElectoralTribunal is competent to accept the proposed initiative and to schedule theelection for the members of the Constituent Assembly within a period notshorter than three months and not longer than six months since the request hasbeen formalized for the election has been formalized.

After the electionthe Parallel Constituent Assembly shall be formally installed and shall beginits

deliberations asof right, as soon as the Electoral Tribunal has delivered to its members their

respectivecredentials.

The ParallelConstituent Assembly shall be composed of sixty members who shall represent the

Panamanians in allprovinces and regions in a proportional manner, in accordance with the votingpopulation; in addition to party nomination, independent candidacies arepermitted. For these purposes the Electoral Tribunal shall establish theelectoral system applicable to the election of the Constituent Assembly'smembers in its order convening the election.

The Parallel ConstituentAssembly may reform the current Constitution totally or partially but in nocase may adopt decisions with retroactive effects or alter the terms of officeof elected or appointed officials who are exercising their functions at themoment when the new Constitution enters into force. The Parallel ConstituentAssembly shall have not less than six months and not more than ninths months inorder to complete its work and to deliver the approved text of the newConstitution to the Electoral Tribunal which shall publish it immediately inits Bulletin.

The newConstitutional Act which has been approved in this manner shall be submitted toa

referendumconvened by the Electoral Tribunal within a period of not less than threemonths and not more than six months since its publication in the Bulletin ofthe Electoral Tribunal.

The ConstitutionalAct approved in accordance with any one of the procedures indicated in this orin the preceding Article shall enter into force upon its publication in theOfficial Gazette which has to be accomplished by the Executive Branch withinten working days of its ratification by the National Assembly or within thirtydays of its approval through referendum, whichever may be the case; however, apublication after the expiration of the delays shall not be a cause ofunconstitutionality.