"Frequent referendums concerning changes to the constitution as well as laws are the key element of Switzerland's unique and well established tradition of Direct Democracy. More than 100 years of experience with referendums on national, cantonal and communal level have shown that Switzerland's system of referendums guarantees not only a maximum amount of self-determination to the citizens but also a stability of the political system Switzerland is often envied for." http://direct-democracy.geschichte-schweiz.ch/switzerlands-system-referendums.html