PLEBISCITE


Meaning of PLEBISCITE in English

n.

Vote by the people of an entire country or district to decide an issue.

Voters are asked to accept or reject a given proposal rather than choose between alternative proposals. By means of plebiscites, intermediaries such as political parties can be bypassed. Because plebiscites offer a way to claim a popular mandate without permitting an opposition party, totalitarian regimes have used them to legitimize their power. See also referendum and initiative .

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.