What is a plebiscite?

pleb-i-scite (pleb-uh-sahyt, -sit)

-noun

1. a direct vote of the qualified voters of a state in regard to some important public question.
2. the vote by which the people of a political unit determine autonomy or affiliation with another country.

(thank you dictionary.com)

A special plebiscite commitee, under the auspices of the present Camacho administration and incumbent legislators, are saddled with the job of presenting the people of Guam, this year, i.e., 2010, the opporunity to determine their political status. Now, it may not happen this year but, this is not something new. This has been an ongoing project that preceded the present administration and legislature. This is a very important plebiscite for the people of Guam, that is, Chamorus and guamanians. This commitee must, first, determine the criteria that will define a "qualified voter" and then present, clearly, the three options on which the qualified voters are to vote: 1) independence; 2) free association with the U.S.; and 3) U.S. statehood. Given all this, there are so many questions that need answers and so many issues to be debated. I asked the first question. I think the next question should be on how to determine the criteria that will define a qualified voter.