What is a referendum?

Referendums let citizens decide important issues themselves, such as constitutional changes, independence or major policies. Switzerland is famous for direct democracy, holding several national votes each year and more national referendums than any other country. Some referendums are binding, meaning the government must act on the result, while others are advisory. The 2016 UK vote on leaving the European Union, known as the Brexit referendum, saw 51.9 percent vote to leave. The word comes from Latin, meaning 'that which must be referred'.