What Are Referendums?

Referendums are one way of finding out whether voters support a particular policy. The electorate are asked to vote "yes" or "no" to a single question on that particular issue. It is a way of exercising direct democracy within a system of representative democracy. The initiative involves an individual or group proposing legislation by securing signatures of a number of people and then having the issue put to the people to accept or reject. They are commonly held to answer questions of a constitutional or moral nature. The main function is to offer constitutional protection and to prevent laws being changed without the consent of the people.

Referendums are very rare in the United Kingdom. The Scottish National Party (SNP) intend to hold one if they get elected in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections in May 2007. They plan to ask whether the Scottish electorate wants to remain in the United Kingdom or, alternatively, wishes Scotland to become independent.