In 2016 the UK will vote on its continued membership of the European Union. The mechanism allowing this, the referendum, is little used and as a result little understood by the electorate. This book offers much needed clarity on the question. It asks if referendums are a force for good in democratic societies and whether they allow for full political engagement. It provides an overview of the rules governing referendums by asking who can vote? And, how much money can be spent? To counter the technical and political analysis, it draws on anecdotes and lessons from history to allow the voter to fully understand the mechanism by which they will vote in 2016.