plebiscite

pleb·i·scite

P0368700 (plĕb′ĭ-sīt′, -sĭt)n.1. A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal: The new constitution was ratified in a plebiscite.2. A vote in which a population exercises the right of national self-determination.

[French plébiscite, from Latin plēbiscītum : plēbis, genitive of plēbs, the people; see pelə- in Indo-European roots + scītum, decree, from neuter past participle of scīscere, to vote for, inchoative of scīre, to know; see skei- in Indo-European roots.]

ple·bis′ci·tar′y (plə-bĭs′ĭ-tĕr′ē, plĕb′ĭ-sĭt′ə-rē) adj.

plebiscite

(ˈplɛbɪˌsaɪt; -sɪt) n1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a direct vote by the electorate of a state, region, etc, on some question of usually national importance, such as union with another state or acceptance of a government programme2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) any expression or determination of public opinion on some matter[C16: from Old French plēbiscite, from Latin plēbiscītum decree of the people, from plēbs the populace + scītum, from scīscere to decree, approve, from scīre to know] plebiscitary adj

pleb•i•scite

(ˈplɛb əˌsaɪt, -sɪt)

n. 1. a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question. 2. the vote by which the people of a political unit determine autonomy or affiliation with another country. [1525–35; < French < Latin plēbīscītum decree of the plebs =plēbī (for plēbis, plēbēī genitive singular of plēbs, plēbēs plebs) + scītum resolution, decree, neuter past participle of scīscere to enact, decree, orig., to seek to know, inchoative of scīre to know]

plebiscite

A vote in which the whole electorate is asked to decide on a particular issue.

Thesaurus

Noun

plebiscite - a vote by the electorate determining public opinion on a question of national importancevote - the opinion of a group as determined by voting; "they put the question to a vote"

plebiscite

noun vote, poll, referendum, ballot The future of the country should be decided by plebiscite.

Translations

Plebiszitplebiscitoplebiscitoплебисцит

plebiscite

(plĕb`ĭsīt) [Lat.,=popular decree], vote of the people on a question submitted to them, as in a referendumreferendum,
referral of proposed laws or constitutional amendments to the electorate for final approval. This direct form of legislation, along with the initiative, was known in Greece and other early democracies.
..... Click the link for more information. . The term, however, has acquired the more specific meaning of a popular vote concerning changes of sovereignty, as compared to a regularized system of popular voting upon laws and constitutional amendments. This more modern use of the plebiscite arose out of the French Revolution and the French Republic's policy of holding popular votes on the question of French annexation of a territory it had occupied. Many, although not all, of these plebiscites and those held in the following century were manipulated by the occupying power to legitimate an outcome already achieved through military or diplomatic means. The use of the plebiscite reached a high point following World War I, when it was employed extensively in Central and Eastern Europe to determine the boundaries of newly created nation states. Since then, it has been used in settling the status of disputed or border territories, e.g., SaarlandSaarland
, state (1994 pop. 1,080,000), 991 sq mi (2,567 sq km), SW Germany; formerly called the Saar or the Saar Territory. Saarbrücken is the capital; other cities include Völklingen, Saarlouis, and Sankt Ingbert.
..... Click the link for more information. (1935) and, most recently, in the process of the decolonization of Africa and Asia, e.g., West New Guinea (1969; see PapuaPapua
or Irian Jaya
, province (2014 est pop. 3,486,000), 123,180 sq mi (319,036 sq km), Indonesia. Comprising most of the western half of New Guinea and a number of offshore islands, it is Indonesia's largest province; the extreme western peninsulas and offshore
..... Click the link for more information. ) and Namibia (1989).

Bibliography

See S. Wambaugh, Plebiscites since the World War (1933); L. T. Farley, Plebiscites and Sovereignty (1986).

Plebiscite

(1) In ancient Rome, a resolution (plebiscitum) passed by assemblies of the plebs. The plebiscite, which originated in the early fifth century B.C., was not confirmed by the Senate and was originally binding only on the plebs. The plebiscite became binding on all the people through the laws of Valerius and Horatius (449 B.C.), Publius Philo (339 B.C.), and Hortensius (287 B.C.). In the third century B.C., lex (law) gradually replaced the plebiscite.

(2) A type of popular vote. As a rule, a plebiscite is conducted by a state that has annexed a foreign territory. The population is offered a plebiscite in order to give an accomplished fact the appearance of popular sanction.

In international relations, a plebiscite is held when foreign territories are seized or annexed in order to determine the will of the people in regard to state affiliation.

As stipulated by the Constitution of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR or its Presidium may submit a draft law for a national discussion or a national referendum either on its own initiative or at request of a Soviet Republic.

plebiscite

1. a direct vote by the electorate of a state, region, etc., on some question of usually national importance, such as union with another state or acceptance of a government programme 2. any expression or determination of public opinion on some matter

plebiscite

pleb·i·scite

plebiscite

pleb•i•scite

plebiscite

plebiscite

plebiscite

plebiscite

Bibliography

Plebiscite

plebiscite

plebiscite

Synonyms for plebiscite

noun vote

Synonyms

Words related to plebiscite

noun a vote by the electorate determining public opinion on a question of national importance

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