REFERENDUM, noun. Plural: referendums or referenda.
1) Submission of an issue of public importance to the direct vote of the electorate.
2) A vote on such an issue.
PLEBISCITE, noun.
1) A direct vote by the electorate of a state, region, etc., on some question usually of national importance.
2) Any expression of public opinion on some matter. (Latin: plebiscitum - 'decree of the people'.)
VOTE, noun.
1) An indication of choice, opinion, or will on a question, such as the choosing of a candidate.
2) The opinion of a group of persons as determined by voting.
3) A body of votes or voters collectively.
4) The total number of votes cast.
5) The ticket, ballot, etc., by which a vote is expressed.
6) i) the right to vote; franchise; ii) a person regarded as the embodiment of this right.
7) A means of voting, such as a ballot.
8) A grant or other proposition to be voted upon.
9) To express or signify one's preference or will for or against some question; to vote by ballot.
10) To declare oneself as being (something or in favour of something) by exercising one's vote.
11) To appoint or elect.
12) To determine the condition of in a specified way by voting.
13) To authorize or allow voting.
14) To declare by common opinion.
The point of any REFERENDUM is to secure a feel for the public's opinion, based upon the result of VOTES for, or against, an issue. It does not guarantee that a bias either way will be acted upon by the government. If a government holds a referendum, say, on whether National Service should be reintroduced, the results of a referendum showing the public affirming its reintroduction would not necessarily mean that the government would act upon that result.
A REFERENDUM is not the same as casting a vote in, say, the election process, where the results provide a definite outcome, such as 5000 votes for Mr Green over 4500 for Mr Blue gets Mr Green the position, and not Mr Blue.
A PLEBISCITE, as indicated, is offered to a specific part of a country's population to vote upon, allowing it thus to express its opinion. An example might be setting up a nuclear reactor on the Isle of Skye - something of national interest and importance, but of especial concern to islanders, who may be invited to vote in a plebiscite on the issue, while the rest of the country would not. If they were, it would be a REFERENDUM.
Therefore, while everyone has an equal opportunity to voice an opinion through voting via referendums and/or plebiscites, there is no guarantee that, having heard the vox pop, the government will act upon the stated preference.
