A referendum is any question, issue, or act referred to the people by the General Assembly or a local government or upon petition from voters as authorized by law. This includes constitutional amendments and bond issues.
A core argument for the use of referendums is that in an era of increasing voter apathy and disenchantment with traditional forms of democracy, direct democracy can help to re-engage voters and improve political stability. In addition, a referendum can also provide an opportunity for the public to express their opinions on a specific issue without having to wait for a general election (such as the 1975 UK referendum on whether the country should remain in the European Union).
In contrast, opponents of referendums argue that they increase the power of the executive and weaken democratic accountability. They further argue that referendums are a poor tool for resolving complex policy questions and can be manipulated by actors with an agenda to mislead voters. Finally, opponents argue that referendums tend to result in lower voter turnout than elections.
Some countries require all constitutional amendments to be put to a referendum, while others allow the referendum process to be initiated by the government or by citizens’ groups. Similarly, participation quorums may be established to prevent referendum results from being skewed by low turnout or decided by a motivated minority of voters. In the case of referendums involving elected officials, recall referenda can be used to remove a particular official before the end of their term.
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