A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue, in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative
. Referendums can be either obligatory or optional, depending on the specific circumstances and requirements of the country or region in question
. In the United States, referendums are also known as ballot measures, propositions, or ballot questions
. They allow citizens to place new legislation or to veto laws by gathering signatures from registered voters to place the issue on the ballot
. The process of initiatives and referendums is a form of direct democracy and is written into several state constitutions, particularly in the West
. Some examples of referendums include:
- Constitutional amendments proposed by legislatures in most states of the United States
- Bond issues in some states and local governments
- Tax questions and related matters in local governments
The first referendum for constitutional ratification was used in the state of Massachusetts in 1778
. The Swiss experience with referendums and initiatives has been influential in the adoption of these devices in other countries and regions
