Welcome to the Voice of America's “News Words”.
欢迎收听美国之音“新闻词汇”。
You might have heard this word in a story about the trouble in Crimea: referendum.
你可能在关于克里米亚危机的报道里听过这个词：全民公决。
Russian-backed troops have occupied Ukraine's Crimea region, and the local parliament voted Thursday to split from Ukraine and join Russia.
俄罗斯的军队已经占领了乌克兰的克里米亚地区，当地议会在周四投票表决脱离乌克兰，加入俄罗斯。
It scheduled a referendum for later this month.
议会还安排在本月举行全民公决。
A referendum is something that is voted on in a special election.
全民公决是指在特殊的选举中投票表决的事情。

It can decide big issues, like breaking away from one country to join another.
它可以决定重大的问题，比如脱离某个国家，加入另一个国家。
A referendum can also be about something smaller.
全民公决也可以用于更小的事情。
Like a vote on a new law, or policy, for a city, state, or country.
比如投票通过一个城市、州或国家的法律或政策。
Now, when you hear the word referendum, you will know what it means.
现在，当你听到“全民公决”这个词时，你就会知道它的意思了。