ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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A referendum is a procedure whereby all citizens of a particular community vote on a political issue.

In most cases, citizens must answer "yes" or "no" to a question defined by the consulting authority. The decision to hold a referendum may come from the executive branch of the community, from a group participating in the legislature, or from a petitionary approach in the case of a popular initiative.

Political independence processes, which constitute a new State by secession from a larger group, often involve consultation with the citizens concerned in a referendum on self-determination.

Definition
A referendum is a process whereby a political authority consults all citizens of a given community on a proposal concerning .

General issues
The purpose of the referendum is to legitimize a political decision by consulting the persons concerned. The definition of participants is generally that of the electoral body, although a referendum may broaden or restrict this field, with a residency criterion.

History
The plebiscite was a procedure of the Roman Republic in ancient times. His relationship with Caesarism, the desire to impose the personal power of a strong man, remains at the root of many criticisms against the referendum.

The territorial referendum, concerning the connection between one community and another, existed in 1552 for the connection of the city of Metz to the Kingdom of France. This type of referendum is associated with the right of peoples to self-determination.

While most contemporary democracies have held referendums throughout their history, few countries have instituted them as a regular mode of government. Half of the 800 referendums held at the national level throughout the world until the end of 1993 were held in Switzerland. In most countries, the decision to hold a referendum was taken by the political parties in power to validate their orientations. The use of the referendum has increased mainly in Switzerland, Italy and some United States states.

Theory
The referendum belongs to the field of law: only laws can be decided by referendum. In representative democracy regimes, parliamentarians discuss and amend laws. The referendum, according to the views of lawyer Raymond Carré de Malberg, is intended to limit and control this power. If , it is healthy that the compromise that parliamentarians have found between the various interests and opinions be submitted to the electorate. The place of the referendum in the hierarchy of powers is a practical problem. Laws are subject to constitutional review, including the protection of minorities. How does the referendum fit into this norm?

The techniques used to implement the referendum respond to its effect.