It is the means by which the people choose their officials for definite and fixed periods and to whom they entrust, for the time being as their representatives, the exercise of powers of government.

It is the name given to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed law or enactment submitted to them. In the Philippines, the term is applied to an election at which any proposed amendment to, or revision of, the Constitution is submitted to the people for their ratification.

It is the submission of a law or part thereof passed by the national or local legislative body to the voting citizens of a country for their ratification or rejection.