Plebiscite

plebiscite |ˈplɛbɪsʌɪt, -sɪt|

noun

the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution. the administration will hold a plebiscite for the approval of constitutional reforms.

• Roman History a law enacted by the plebeians’ assembly.

DERIVATIVES

plebiscitary |-ˈbɪsɪt(ə)ri| adjective

ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (referring to Roman history): from French plébiscite, from Latin plebiscitum, from plebs, pleb- ‘the common people’ + scitum ‘decree’ (from sciscere ‘vote for’). The sense ‘direct vote of the whole electorate’ dates from the mid 19th cent.