Legal Instruments of Social Control in Swiss and Polish Self-Government: A Doctrinal and Legal Study

Abstract One of the basic instruments direct democracy is referendum, which particularly developed in Switzerland. In Poland, due to historical conditions, there no tradition using referendums; however, recent years, participation citizens public co-decision has started be implemented through governance (participatory democracy), i.e. village council fund and participatory budgeting. Apart from function, active making decisions, all above-mentioned should also fulfill another important role: it social control financial sphere. Therefore, this study attempts answer following research question: do fulfil function field if so, how? According adopted hypothesis, both forms constitute (contain) elements activities authorities. And by their very nature, these legal are form ex ante external control. To verify view, interprets content foreign domestic acts universally binding law (cantonal constitutions, statutory provisions).