Referendum V Democracy - What Do They Mean?
What is a referendum?
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to decide a single political question. From the Latin meaning "something to be referred", it is a form of direct democracy where the people make the decision themselves, rather than through elected representatives.
What is democracy? Democracy, from the Greek demos (people) and kratos (rule), means rule by the people. It is an ongoing system of government where the population retains power over how they are governed, typically through elected representatives, free speech, rule of law, and the ability to make future decisions.
Does democracy end after a referendum?
No. A referendum is an event within a democracy, not the end of it. After a referendum, parliaments continue to govern, laws can still be changed, courts continue to function, and people remain free to debate the decision. If democracy ended after a vote, it would cease to be a democracy.
Can you have more than one referendum on the same topic?
Yes. There is no law or principle of democracy that says a topic can only ever be voted on once.
There are many examples of repeat referendums on the same issue in democratic countries - the UK on Europe in 1975 and 2016, Scotland on devolution in 1979 and 1997, Quebec on independence in 1980 and 1995, and Ireland and Denmark on EU treaties.
What is required for a second referendum is not permission from the first result, but a new democratic and legal mandate - usually a new Act of Parliament and, in the UK context, agreement on the process for holding it.
In short: a referendum settles a question for that moment. Democracy is what allows that question to be revisited in the future if the people, through democratic means, choose to do so.