The following elections occurred in the year 1978.
Africa
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1978 Cameroonian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Cameroon on 28 May 1978. The country was a one-party state at the time, with the Cameroonian National Union as the sole legal party. 2,618 candidates ran for a place on the CNU list, with 120 eventually winnin ...
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1978 Comorian legislative election
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1978 Comorian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in the Comoros on 22 October 1978 following the approval of a new constitution in a 1978 Comorian constitutional referendum, referendum earlier in the month. The only candidate was Ahmed Abdallah, who had been Pre ...
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1978 Egyptian protection of national unity and social peace referendum
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1978 Ghanaian governmental referendum
A referendum on the system of government was held in Ghana on 30 March 1978.
Background
In December 1971 the government of Kofi Abrefa Busia drastically devalued the cedi. However, the authorities' inability to control the subsequent inflation ...
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1978 Malawian general election
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1978 Rwandan constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in Rwanda on 17 December 1978. It followed the 1973 coup d'état by Juvénal Habyarimana and the dissolution of the former sole legal party, MDR-Parmehutu. The new constitution created a presidential republ ...
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1978 Rwandan presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Rwanda on 24 December 1978, a week after the country's new constitution was approved in a referendum. The constitution had made the country a one-party state with the National Revolutionary Movement for Developm ...
*
1978 Senegalese general election
General elections were held in Senegal on 26 February 1978 to elect a president and National Assembly. Following a constitutional amendment in 1976,[1978 Sierra Leonean constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum was held in Sierra Leone on 12 July 1978. The constitutional amendments were aimed at turning the country into a presidential one-party state, with the All People's Congress as the sole legal party. The new constitution ...]
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1978 South West African legislative election
Parliamentary elections were held in South West Africa between 4 and 8 December 1978. These were the first elections conducted under universal adult suffrage, all previous elections had been Whites-only. The 1978 elections were won by the Democ ...
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1978 Sudanese parliamentary election
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1978 Swazi general election
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
*
1978 Upper Voltan parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Republic of Upper Volta, Upper Volta on 30 April 1978. They followed a 1977 Upper Voltan constitutional referendum, constitutional referendum the previous year, which came about as a result of the 1974 Upper V ...
*
1978 Upper Voltan presidential election
Presidential elections were held in the Republic of Upper Volta on 14 May 1978, with a second round on 28 May after no candidate won more than 50% in the first round. They were the country's first multi-party presidential elections, the previous ...
*
1978 Zambian general election
Asia
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1978 Malaysian general election
General elections were held in Malaysia between Saturday, 8 July and Saturday, 22 July 1978.Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p152 Voting took place in all 154 parliamentar ...
*
1978 Maldivian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in the Maldives on 28 July 1978. The election took the form of a referendum on the candidacy of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,"News in Brief", ''The Times'', 31 July 1978, p5, issue 60367 who was elected with 92.96% of the ...
*
1978 Philippine parliamentary election
A parliamentary election was held in the Philippines on April 7, 1978, for the election of the 165 regional representatives to the Interim Batasang Pambansa (the nation's first parliament). The leading opposition party, the Lakas ng Bayan (LAB ...
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1978 Philippine parliamentary sectoral election
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1978 Taiwan presidential election
Australia
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1978 New South Wales state election
The 1978 New South Wales state election was held on 7 October 1978 to elect all 99 members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. The Labor Party Government was returned for a second term,defeating the Opposition Liberal/National coaliti ...
Europe
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1978 Albanian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania on 12 November 1978. The Democratic Front was the only party able to contest the elections, and subsequently won all 250 seats. Voter turnout was reported to be 100%, ...
*
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1978 Austrian nuclear power referendum
A referendum on the use of nuclear power was held in Austria on 5 November 1978. Voters were asked whether they approved a law allowing the peaceful use of nuclear power, particularly relating to the start-up of the Zwentendorf Nuclear Power Pla ...
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1978 Belgian general election
General elections were held in Belgium on 17 December 1978. The Christian People's Party emerged as the largest party, with 57 of the 212 seats in the Chamber of Representatives and 29 of the 106 seats in the Senate. Voter turnout was 94.8%.No ...
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1978 Danish electoral age referendum
A referendum on lowering the voting age from 20 to 18 was held in Denmark on 19 September 1978.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p524 It was held after the Danish government lowering the age of major ...
*
1978 Icelandic parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Iceland on 25 June 1978.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p962 The Independence Party (Iceland), Independence Party remained the largest party in the Lower House ...
*
1978 Italian referendums
A double referendum was held in Italy on 11 June 1978.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p1048 Voters were asked whether they approved of the repealing of laws on political party financing and public ...
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October 1978 Papal conclave
A papal conclave was held from 14 to 16 October 1978 to elect a new pope to succeed John Paul I, who had died on 28 September 1978, just 33 days after his election. All 111 eligible cardinal electors attended. On the eighth ballot, the concl ...
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August 1978 Papal conclave
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1978 Shetland referendum
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Spanish constitutional referendum
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1978 Swiss referendums
Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1978. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', pp1925–1926 The first four were held on 26 February on a popular initiative "for more co-decisions of the Federal A ...
* Vatican:
two Papal conclaves:
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August 1978 Papal conclave
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October 1978 Papal conclave
A papal conclave was held from 14 to 16 October 1978 to elect a new pope to succeed John Paul I, who had died on 28 September 1978, just 33 days after his election. All 111 eligible cardinal electors attended. On the eighth ballot, the concl ...
France
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1978 French legislative election
Legislative elections were held in France on 12 and 19 March 1978 to elect the sixth National Assembly of France, National Assembly of the French Fifth Republic, Fifth Republic. The election results were a victory for conservatives. The results ...
Germany
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:de:Bürgerschaftswahl in Hamburg 1978 (
Hamburg
Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
)
*
:de:Landtagswahl in Niedersachsen 1978 (
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a States of Germany, German state (') in Northern Germany, northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ' of the Germany, Federal Re ...
)
*
:de:Landtagswahl in Hessen 1978 (
Hesse
Hesse or Hessen ( ), officially the State of Hesse (), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt, which is also the country's principal financial centre. Two other major hist ...
)
*
:de:Landtagswahl in Bayern 1978 (
Bavaria
Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...
)
North America
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Greenlandic alcohol referendum
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1978 Guatemalan general election
General elections were held in Guatemala on 5 March 1978.Dieter Nohlen (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', p323 No candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the presidential election, resulting in Fernando Romeo ...
*
1978 Panamanian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Panama on 6 August 1978, electing a new .
On 6 August 1978 the first of several steps was taken under the Constitution of 1972 which was to lead ultimately to the restoration of power to elected officials.
T ...
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1978 Panamanian presidential election
Indirect presidential elections were held in Panama on 11 October 1978, electing a new President of the Republic.
In September 1978 Omar Torrijos announced that he would step down as Chief of Government when his six-year term expired in October ...
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1978 Salvadoran legislative election
Canada
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1978 Brantford municipal election
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1978 New Brunswick general election
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1978 Ontario municipal elections
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1978 Ottawa municipal election
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1978 Prince Edward Island general election
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1978 Saskatchewan general election
The 1978 Saskatchewan general election was held on October 18, 1978, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party, New Democratic government of List of premiers of Saskatchewan, Premier All ...
*
1978 Toronto municipal election
The Toronto municipal election of 1978, held on Monday, November 13, 1978, was the first seriously contested mayoralty race in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, since David Crombie took office in the 1972 election. Crombie left municipal politics earli ...
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1978 Yukon general election
The 1978 Yukon general election was held on November 20, 1978, was the first conventional legislative election in the history of Canada's Yukon Territory. Prior elections were held to elect representatives to the Yukon Territorial Council, a non-p ...
United States
*
1978 United States Senate elections
The 1978 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, in the middle of United States Democratic Party, Democratic President of the United States, President Jimmy Carter's term. The 33 seats of Classes of United States senators, Class 2 ...
*
1978 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1978 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 7, 1978, to elect members to serve in the 96th United States Congress. They occurred in the middle of Democrati ...
*
1978 United States gubernatorial elections
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 7, 1978, in 36 states and two territories. The Republican Party (United States), Republicans had a net gain of six seats, Democrats sustained a net loss of five seats, and there would ...
United States mayoral
*
1978 Cleveland mayoral recall election
The 1978 Cleveland recall election determined whether or not the 53rd Mayor of Cleveland, Dennis Kucinich, would be removed from office. It was the first mayoral recall election in the city's history.
Background
On March 24, 1978, after an ...
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1978 Washington, D.C. mayoral election
United States gubernatorial
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1978 Arkansas gubernatorial election
The 1978 Arkansas gubernatorial election, held on November 7, was the first time that future President of the United States, president Bill Clinton was elected Governor of Arkansas.
Democratic primary
At this time, one gubernatorial term w ...
*
1978 California gubernatorial election
The 1978 California gubernatorial election occurred on November 7, 1978. The California Democratic Party, Democratic incumbent, Jerry Brown, defeated the California Republican Party, Republican nominee California Attorney General, Attorney Gen ...
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1978 Maine gubernatorial election
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd government).
* January 6 � ...
*
1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election
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1978 Oregon gubernatorial election
The 1978 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. In a rematch of the 1974 contest, Republican nominee Victor Atiyeh defeated Democratic incumbent Robert Straub to win the election.
As of 2025, this is the last time tha ...
*
1978 South Carolina gubernatorial election
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
*
1978 Texas gubernatorial election
The 1978 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978, to elect the governor of Texas. In a surprising upset, Republican Bill Clements was narrowly elected over Democratic State Attorney General John Hill, winning 50% of the vo ...
*
1978 United States gubernatorial elections
United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 7, 1978, in 36 states and two territories. The Republican Party (United States), Republicans had a net gain of six seats, Democrats sustained a net loss of five seats, and there would ...
Arkansas
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1978 Arkansas gubernatorial election
The 1978 Arkansas gubernatorial election, held on November 7, was the first time that future President of the United States, president Bill Clinton was elected Governor of Arkansas.
Democratic primary
At this time, one gubernatorial term w ...
California
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1978 California gubernatorial election
The 1978 California gubernatorial election occurred on November 7, 1978. The California Democratic Party, Democratic incumbent, Jerry Brown, defeated the California Republican Party, Republican nominee California Attorney General, Attorney Gen ...
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United States House of Representatives elections in California, 1978
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1978 California Proposition 7
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1978 California Proposition 8
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1978 California Proposition 13
Proposition 13 (officially named the People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation) is an amendment of the Constitution of California enacted during 1978, by means of the initiative process, to cap property taxes and limit property reassessm ...
Florida
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1978 Florida state elections
Illinois
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United States Senate election in Illinois, 1978
Maine
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1978 Maine gubernatorial election
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd government).
* January 6 � ...
*
United States Senate election in Maine, 1978
Minnesota
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1978 Minnesota gubernatorial election
Nebraska
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United States Senate election in Nebraska, 1978
Ohio
*
1978 Cleveland recall election
The 1978 Cleveland recall election determined whether or not the 53rd Mayor of Cleveland, Mayor of Cleveland, Dennis Kucinich, would be removed from office. It was the first mayoral recall election in the city's history.
Background
On March ...
Oregon
*
1978 Oregon gubernatorial election
The 1978 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1978. In a rematch of the 1974 contest, Republican nominee Victor Atiyeh defeated Democratic incumbent Robert Straub to win the election.
As of 2025, this is the last time tha ...
South Carolina
*
1978 South Carolina gubernatorial election
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
*
1978 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina
Texas
*
1978 Texas gubernatorial election
The 1978 Texas gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978, to elect the governor of Texas. In a surprising upset, Republican Bill Clements was narrowly elected over Democratic State Attorney General John Hill, winning 50% of the vo ...
United States House of Representatives
*
1978 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1978 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 7, 1978, to elect members to serve in the 96th United States Congress. They occurred in the middle of Democrati ...
**
United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina, 1978
**
United States House of Representatives elections in California, 1978
United States Senate
*
1978 United States Senate elections
The 1978 United States Senate elections were held on November 7, in the middle of United States Democratic Party, Democratic President of the United States, President Jimmy Carter's term. The 33 seats of Classes of United States senators, Class 2 ...
**
United States Senate election in Georgia, 1978
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United States Senate election in Illinois, 1978
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United States Senate election in Maine, 1978
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United States Senate election in Massachusetts, 1978
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United States Senate election in Mississippi, 1978
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United States Senate election in Nebraska, 1978
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United States Senate election in North Carolina, 1978
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United States Senate election in South Carolina, 1978
Washington, D.C.
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1978 Washington, D.C. mayoral election
Oceania
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1978 American Samoan referendum
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1978 Cook Islands general election
General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 30 March 1978 to elect members of the Parliament of the Cook Islands, Legislative Assembly. The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party (CIP) of Premier Albert Henry (politician), Albert H ...
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1978 New Zealand general election
The 1978 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to elect the 39th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, retain office, but the opposition Labour Party won the largest share of the vot ...
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1978 Rangitikei by-election
The Rangitikei by-election of 1978 was a by-election in the New Zealand electorate of , a predominantly rural district in the middle of New Zealand's North Island. The by-election occurred on 18 February 1978, and was precipitated by the death ...
Australia
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1978 New South Wales state election
The 1978 New South Wales state election was held on 7 October 1978 to elect all 99 members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. The Labor Party Government was returned for a second term,defeating the Opposition Liberal/National coaliti ...
South America
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1978 Chilean national consultation
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
*
*
1978 Guyanese constitutional referendum
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd government).
* January 6 � ...
*
1978 Peruvian Constituent Assembly election
Constituent Assembly elections were held in Peru on 18 June 1978.Dieter Nohlen (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II'', p454 The American Popular Revolutionary Alliance, led by Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, emerged as t ...
*
1978 Venezuelan presidential election
General elections were held in Venezuela on 3 December 1978.Dieter Nohlen (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II'', p555 The presidential elections were won by Luis Herrera Campins of Copei, who received 47% of the vote. ...
See also
{{Electoral calendar navigation
1978
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
Elections
An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated ...