A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal, often related to changes in laws or government policies. This process allows citizens to express their opinions on significant issues, such as constitutional amendments or independence from a country. The outcome of a referendum can lead to major changes in governance or societal norms. Referendums are commonly used in democratic systems to gauge public support for specific initiatives. They can be binding, meaning the government must implement the decision, or non-binding, serving mainly as a gauge of public opinion. Examples of referendums include the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom and the Scottish independence referendum.