A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. It allows voters to make a "Yes" or "No" decision on a specific issue. The referendum can be initiated by citizens or the government and may result in the adoption of a new policy or law, or the referendum may be only advisory
. In the context of the United States, a referendum is the method by which voters may veto a law (or part of a law) by gathering signatures from registered voters to place the issue on the ballot
