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| | US Government and Politics - Referendum - Hear The Issues - Political Articles and Commentary |
 | | Although some advocates of direct democracy would have the referendum become the dominant institution of government, in practice, in almost all cases, the referendum exists solely as a complement to the system of representative democracy, in which most major decisions are made by an elected legislature. |
 | | Quebec in Canada is an example; a referendum in 1980 rejected "sovereignty-association" by a vote of 59-41 percent against; a second in 1995 rejected, by 51-49 percent, a mandate to allow the provincial government to negotiate sovereignty with an undefined relationship with Canada based on a common currency. |
 | | In June 1948, a multiple-choice referendum was held in Newfoundland, with three choices: join Canada as a province, be restored as a dominion under the British crown, or continue with the commission administration in effect since 1934. |
| www.heartheissues.com /usgovt-referendum.html (2991 words) |
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