plebiscite
plebiscite Lexical Profile
plebiscite Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question, such as a change in the constitution, national sovereignty, or government policy.
"The government agreed to hold a national plebiscite to let citizens decide whether to adopt the proposed constitutional reforms."
In ancient Rome, a law enacted by the common people (plebeians) assembly, under the presidency of a tribune.
"After the Hortensian Law of 287 BC, a Roman plebiscite carried the full force of law and bound patricians and plebeians alike."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably with 'referendum,' 'plebiscite' in political science frequently denotes a non-binding national vote to gauge public opinion or a vote concerning sovereignty and territorial boundaries, whereas a referendum typically decides on a specific binding law or constitutional amendment.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via French plébiscite from Latin plebiscitum ('a decree of the common people'), a compound of plebs ('the common people, plebeians') and scitum ('a decree or ordinance'), from sciscere ('to assent to, vote for, or enact').