Types of Referendums

Types of Referendums

While there are many types of referendums, generally they can be divided into two large groups: Domestic Policy Referendums and Foreign Policy Referendums.

Domestic Policy Referendums are generally referendums that deal with changes to the nation’s Constitution or on whether the general public backs a potential law or even as a way for the public to provide approval for a decision made in government.

Foreign Policy Referendums are much broader in scope and more often utilised than Domestic Policy Referendums. Foreign Policy Referendums include Treaties (agreements between two or more countries), Declarations of War (military aggression towards another country), and Status Changes (including self-government, classification changes, and even independence).

Status Change Referendums are Foreign Policy Referendums because when a nation changes its status, the change doesn’t just affect the nation and its inhabitants, instead it affects the nation in relation to other nations.  If a nation goes from a territory to a commonwealth, it begs the questions “Who did the territory belong?” “What does being a member of the commonwealth entail?”  If the form of government changes, from democratic to socialist, how will that affect treaties currently in place? Thus Status Change Referendums are Foreign Policy because the "status" is in relation to other nations.