Resumen

MIRANDA, Jorge. O referendo e o plebiscito: a experiência portuguesa. Cuest. Const. [online]. 2008, n.19, pp.149-171. ISSN 1405-9193.

Writing on referendum (orplebiscite, because the words must be considered, from Law's point of view, synonymous) is remembering an historical paradox. In itself, a democratic instrument, the referendum has been used by most dictators for consolidating their autocratic regimes. Therefore, it's understandable the misbelif in referendum. In this way, only strong representative institutions can coexist with referendum as expression of popular will. The portuguese case is quite illustrative, used by the Salazar dictatorship to impose its Constitution, in the present democratic regime the referendum emerged, at local level, in 1982 and at national level, in 1989, in restrictive conditions, and its practice is very scarce.

Palabras llave : Referendum; Democracy; Representation; Parliament; Constitution.