A Comparative Study of Good Referendum CriteriaWith an Emphasis on A Comprehensive Referendum Law

Referendum has always drawn attention as a direct tool for exercizing the right to self-determination and citizen participation. The most important question is what are the features and standards of a "good referendum" - as a fully-fledged indication of the citizens' will? As well, what principles and rules should a referendum have to be the real representation of the will of the citizens and in what context it should take place? In this article, through employing a descriptive-analytic method, while acknowledging the lack of a clear and comprehensive legal system for the referendum in Iran and taking into account of experiences of different countries, the principles and criteria of a good referendum, and the processes and stages of this democratic phenomenon are examined. Emphasizing the need to strenrthening the guiding role of the legal system for the referendum and taking it away from the realm of political games, it is finally proposed to formulate a comprehensive law on the referendum in order for determining all the elements and components related to a good referendum so that all actors in the field of the referendum act within an appropriate legal framework.