A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. It is a form of direct democracy, where the people have a say in the decision-making process. In contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative, a referendum allows the people to vote directly on the issue. The outcome of a referendum may result in the adoption of a new policy or specific law, or the referendum may be only advisory.
Referendums can be binding or advisory, and different names are used for these two types of referendums in some countries. They can be further classified by who initiates them, such as mandatory (legally required) vs optional (ad hoc) and binding vs consultative.
Referendums are used selectively, covering issues such as changes in voting systems, where currently elected officials may not have the legitimacy or inclination to implement such changes. They are often used to decide on important issues that affect the public, such as constitutional changes, membership in international organizations, or controversial social issues.
In the UK, most decisions are made by elected representatives, but referendums have been used to decide on issues such as Scottish independence and Brexit. In the US, referendums are used at the state and federal levels to allow voters to approve or reject new laws, proposals, or courses of action.
Overall, a referendum is a way for the people to have a direct say in the decision-making process, and it can be used to decide on important issues that affect the public.
