Citizen initiatives are a form of direct democracy that allows citizens to propose new laws or amendments to existing laws. This process typically involves gathering a certain number of signatures from registered voters to qualify the proposal for a ballot. If successful, the initiative is then voted on by the public during an election. These initiatives empower citizens to influence legislation on issues they care about, such as environmental protection or healthcare reform. They serve as a way for the electorate to bypass traditional legislative processes and directly express their preferences on specific policies.