referendum

noun

1. a legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate

   noun.act

   Source: WordNet 3.0

2. A diplomatic agent's note asking for instructions from his government concerning a particular matter or point.

   noun

   Source: webster1913

3. The principle or practice of referring measures passed upon by the legislative body to the body of voters, or electorate, for approval or rejection, as in the Swiss cantons (except Freiburg) and in various local governments in the United States, and also in the local option laws, etc.; also, the right to so approve or reject laws, or the vote by which this is done. <i>Referendum</i> is distinguished from the <i>mandate</i>, or instruction of representatives by the people, from <i>direct government</i> by the people, in which they initiate and make the laws by direct action without representation, and from a <i>plebiscite</i>, or popular vote taken on any measure proposed by a person or body having the initiative but not constituting a representative or constituent body.

   noun

   Source: webster1913