The roots of rule by the people
The great law of peace
Power to the villages
Modern experiments in autonomy
YOUR GOAL
Master of The art of ruling ourselves
007skaty Zapatista Autonomous Caracoles
No kings at the top, we rule by obeying, we run our own town
007skaty Switzerland's federal system lets citizens trigger nationwide referendums with 50,000 signatures or propose constitutional amendments with 100,000 signatures.
007skaty Zapatista citizens gather under warm light inside a Caracol council hall in Chiapas.
007skaty Pass or veto bills to discover how communities govern themselves through parliament.
Voting with swords: In some Swiss Landsgemeinde assemblies, citizens historically carried a ceremonial sword as proof of their citizenship and right to vote.
The right or condition of self-government. In 1971, Copenhagen squatters established a famous self-governing neighborhood to practice this principle.
In what year was the open-air assembly known as the Landsgemeinde first documented in Swiss history?
How do Zapatista autonomous communities prevent leaders from hoarding power over long periods?
In Swiss direct democracy, how many signatures must citizens gather to propose an amendment to the federal constitution?
What is the name of the local administrative centers, meaning 'snails,' used by the Zapatistas to run their autonomous government?
What is the name of the open-air democratic assembly held annually in certain Swiss cantons where citizens vote by raising hands?
How many signatures are currently required for Swiss citizens to trigger a nationwide referendum to challenge a new law?
In which Mexican state did the Zapatistas establish autonomous communities with their own schools and clinics in 1994?