Editing Referendum (section)

==Types==

=== Classification ===
The term "referendum" covers a variety of different meanings, and the terminology is different depending on the use. A referendum can be binding or advisory.<ref>{{cite book |pages=2–3 |title=The Dynamics of Referendum Campaigns: An International Perspective|chapter=Context, Elites, Media and Public Opinion in Referendums: When Campaigns Really Matter|last= de Vreese |first=Claes H. |isbn=9780230591189 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wHuGDAAAQBAJ |date= 2007 |publisher= Palgrave Macmillan}}
</ref> In some countries, different names are used for these two types of referendum. Referendums can be further classified by who initiates them.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Serdült|first1=Uwe|last2=Welp|first2=Yanina|date=2012|title=Direct Democracy Upside Down|url=http://www.tfd.org.tw/export/sites/tfd/files/publication/journal/dj0801/004.pdf|journal=Taiwan Journal of Democracy|volume=8|issue=1|pages=69–92|doi=10.5167/uzh-98412|access-date=2015-03-24|archive-date=2015-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104503/http://www.tfd.org.tw/export/sites/tfd/files/publication/journal/dj0801/004.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

David Altman proposes four dimensions that referendums can be classified by:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Direct Democracy Worldwide|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288427223|access-date=2021-08-29|website=ResearchGate|language=en}}</ref>

* [[Mandatory referendum|Mandatory]] (legally required) vs [[Optional referendum|Optional]] (ad hoc)
* Binding vs consultative
* [[Popular initiative|Citizen initiated]] (bottom-up) vs [[Authorities referendum|Authorities initiated]] (top-down)
* Proactive (proposing a change) vs reactive (preventing a change)

=== Mandatory referendums ===
{{Main|Mandatory referendum}}
A [[mandatory referendum]] is a class of referendum required to be voted on if certain conditions are met or for certain government actions to be taken. They do not require any signatures from the public. In areas that use referendums a mandatory referendum is commonly used as a legally required step for ratification for constitutional changes, ratifying international treaties and joining international organizations, and certain types of public spending.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Design and Political issues of Referendums –|url=http://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/es/ese/ese08/ese08a/ese08a02|access-date=2020-06-11|website=aceproject.org|archive-date=2020-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502105042/http://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/es/ese/ese08/ese08a/ese08a02|url-status=live}}</ref>

Typical types of mandatory referendums include:

* Constitutional changes: Some countries or local governments choose to enact any constitutional amendments with a mandatory referendum. These include [[Referendums in Australia|Australia]], [[Ordinary referendum|Ireland]], [[Voting in Switzerland|Switzerland]], Denmark, and 49 of the 50 [[U.S. state]]s (the only exception is [[Delaware]]).
* [[Financial referendum]]: Many localities require a referendum in order for the government to issue certain bonds, raise taxes above a specified amount, or take on certain amounts of debt. In [[California]] for example, the state government may not borrow more than $300,000 without a public vote in a statewide bond [[California ballot proposition|proposition]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Statewide bond propositions (California)|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Statewide_bond_propositions_(California)|access-date=2020-06-11|website=Ballotpedia|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222220011/https://ballotpedia.org/Statewide_bond_propositions_(California)|url-status=live}}</ref>
* International relations: Switzerland has mandatory referendums on enacting [[Treaty|international treaties]] that have to do with [[Military alliance|collective security]] and joining a supranational community. This type of referendum has only occurred once in the country's history: a failed attempt in 1986 for Switzerland to join the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Goetschel|first1=Laurent|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Ok3SLA1ndEC&q=mandatory+referendum+switzerland+treaty+security&pg=PA40|title=Swiss Foreign Policy: Foundations and Possibilities|last2=Bernath|first2=Magdalena|last3=Schwarz|first3=Daniel|date=2004|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-34812-6|language=en}}</ref>
* [[War referendum]]: A hypothetical type of referendum, first proposed by [[Immanuel Kant]], is a referendum to approve a declaration of war in a [[war referendum]]. It has never been enacted by any country, but was debated in the United States in the 1930s as the [[Ludlow Amendment]].

=== Optional referendum ===
{{Main|Optional referendum}}
An [[optional referendum]] is a class of referendums that is put to the vote as a result of a demand. This may come from the executive branch, legislative branch, or a request from the people (often after meeting a signature requirement).

Types of optional referendums include:

* [[Legislative referral|Authorities plebiscite]]: Also known as a legislative referral, are initiated by the legislature or government. These may be advisory questions to gauge public opinion or binding questions of law.
* [[Popular initiative]] or Initiative referendum: A citizen-led process to propose and vote on new laws.
* [[Popular referendum]]: A citizen-led process to oppose and strike down existing laws.
* [[Recall election|Recall referendum]]:  A procedure to remove elected officials before the end of their [[term of office]]. Depending on the area and position, a recall may be for a specific individual, such as an individual legislator, or more general such as an entire legislature.