Definition
A referendum is often used a “catch-all” phrase linked to notions of democracy. Often referred to as a “plebiscite” or “initiative,” a referendum, in its basic sense, is held to order to provide opportunities for voters to directly indicate their preference on government action or in relation to a specific issue. Often, these issues are controversial and multifaceted in nature. During a referendum, which may or may not be held at the same time as a general election, voters are often given a binary choice, such as a yes/no question, that indicates their preference regarding a proposed change. The results of a referendum may be legally binding or advisory, the latter of which is largely consultative in nature and used as a mechanism to check support for an issue or proposed change. Depending on the jurisdiction, a referendum can be initiated by a citizen, by a government, or through a Parliamentary process.
Introduction
The purpose of this entry is to explain what a referendum...
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Further Readings
de Vreese, C. H. (Ed.). The dynamics of referendum campaigns. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
LeDuc, L. (2015). Referendums and deliberative democracy. Electoral Studies, 38, 139–148.
Semetko, H. A., & de Vreese, C. H. (2004). Political campaigning in referendums: Framing the referendum issue. London: Routledge.
Setälä, M., & Schiller, T. (2009). Referendums and representative democracy: Responsiveness, accountability and deliberation (Vol. 62). London: Routledge.
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Roper, J., Hurst, B., Bethune, G. (2022). Referendums and Referendum Campaigns. In: Harris, P., Bitonti, A., Fleisher, C.S., Binderkrantz, A.S. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Interest Groups, Lobbying and Public Affairs. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44556-0_144
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