Referenda/Referendum

Definition

A referendum is a direct vote by citizens on a specific issue or proposal put forth by the government. It allows people to directly participate in decision-making processes.

Analogy

Imagine you and your friends are trying to decide where to go for dinner. Instead of one person making the decision, you all vote on different options, and whichever option gets the most votes wins. That's similar to how referenda work - instead of politicians making decisions, citizens get to vote directly on important issues.

Related terms

Representative Democracy: A form of government where citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf.

Initiative Process: A process that allows citizens to propose new laws or changes to existing laws through petitions.

Electoral Systems: The methods used for conducting elections and determining representation in government.