plebiscite
noun
pleb·i·scite ˈple-bə-ˌsīt 
-sət,
also -ˌsēt
: a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler
plebiscitary
ple-ˈbi-sə-ˌter-ē
adjective pli-;
ˌple-bə-ˈsī-tə-rē
Example Sentences
They are going to hold a plebiscite on the question of national independence. The issue will be decided by plebiscite.
Recent Examples on the Web Current law requires a two-thirds majority to raise taxes through legislation but only a simple majority to do so by plebiscite. 
James Freeman, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 With 99% of the votes counted in Sunday’s plebiscite, the rejection camp had 61.9% support compared to 38.1% for approval amid heavy turnout with long lines at polling states. Daniel Politi, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2022 With 96% of the votes counted in Sunday's plebiscite, the rejection camp had nearly 62% support compared to more than 38% for approval amid what appeared to be a heavy turnout with long lines at polling states. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2022 After the plebiscite, no matter who wins, coalitions on both sides have committed to make changes either to the new or the current constitution. Daniela Mohor W., CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 Chileans will decide whether to adopt or reject the constitution in a nationwide plebiscite on September 4. Jorge Engels And Jack Guy, CNN, 4 July 2022 Nor are faith and religious belief the sort of things that are put up for a popular plebiscite. Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2022 Napoleon, the very model of the nineteenth-century autocrat, ruled constitutionally and by plebiscite, however rigged the voting might have been. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 American citizens don't directly gather in community buildings to hash out political decisions, and not every policy our government pursues is approved by plebiscite. Joel Mathis, The Week, 15 Apr. 2022 See More
James Freeman, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 With 99% of the votes counted in Sunday’s plebiscite, the rejection camp had 61.9% support compared to 38.1% for approval amid heavy turnout with long lines at polling states. Daniel Politi, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Sep. 2022 With 96% of the votes counted in Sunday's plebiscite, the rejection camp had nearly 62% support compared to more than 38% for approval amid what appeared to be a heavy turnout with long lines at polling states. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 5 Sep. 2022 After the plebiscite, no matter who wins, coalitions on both sides have committed to make changes either to the new or the current constitution. Daniela Mohor W., CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 Chileans will decide whether to adopt or reject the constitution in a nationwide plebiscite on September 4. Jorge Engels And Jack Guy, CNN, 4 July 2022 Nor are faith and religious belief the sort of things that are put up for a popular plebiscite. Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2022 Napoleon, the very model of the nineteenth-century autocrat, ruled constitutionally and by plebiscite, however rigged the voting might have been. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 American citizens don't directly gather in community buildings to hash out political decisions, and not every policy our government pursues is approved by plebiscite. Joel Mathis, The Week, 15 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin plebis scitum law voted by the comitia, literally, decree of the common people
First Known Use
1860, in the meaning defined above