2023-12-15 11:30:48
On the occasion of the plebiscite on the new Chilean Constitution, which will be held on December 17, the following drafting tips are offered.
1. Plebiscite y referendum (o referendum)
In it general languagethe terms plebiscite y referendum o referendum have often interchangeable meanings. Thus, according to the Pan-Hispanic dictionary of legal Spanishand referendum It is an ‘instrument of direct democracy by which norms or decisions adopted by public powers are submitted for ratification by the electoral body.’ For its part, plebiscite refers to a type of referendum, specifically one in which citizens vote on issues of special importance, such as a constitutional reform.
In the case of Chile, the official name is plebiscitealthough, taking into account the previous definitions, the use of referendum o referendum. However, it is worth mentioning that in some countries the laws establish differences between the two procedures.
2. plebiscitary y post plebiscitary
The appropriate adjective to refer to what ‘belonging or relating to the plebiscite’ es plebiscite. To refer to period following the consultationit is advisable to use the word post plebiscitary (in a word and without t)but also the form is considered valid postplebiscitario. The same happens with postreferéndum y postreferéndum (less recommended). If, on the other hand, they advise against pos
3. Constitutionupper case and lower case
According to the Spelling of the Spanish language, constitutions usually cited in abbreviated formusing the generic noun Constitution written with initial capital letter: the Constitution. That capital letter does not affect specifiers to accompany her: the fathers of the Constitution, the Chilean Constitution, the new Constitution… However, alternatives such as big paper, fundamental letter o ley fundamental are written with lower caseas merely referential expressions.
4. Scrutiny, calculation, count…
To refer to the ‘recognition and counting of votes’ in a query of this type, the terms can be used scrutiny, calculation, count y countbut not I count.
5. A favor, in favour of y in favor of, but not in favor
With the sense of ‘favorably or in support of something or someone’ construction is mostly used a favor of (“According to surveys, 38% would vote in favor of the new Constitution”), or simply a favor if the complement is understood (“They will have fewer votes in favor”). According to him Panhispanic Dictionary of Doubts, is also admissible in favor ofdocumented in America, which arises by analogy with the expression against. However, in this case, Its use is discouraged if the plugin is not explicit (“They will vote in favor of the new Constitution”, but not “It had many votes in favor”).
6. Vote a favor o againstwith lower case and without quotes
The expressions a favor o against are written with lower case and without any type of highlight, that is, without quotes or italics. Therefore, in phrases such as “The population has the perception that the “Against” option will win the plebiscite” or “Chileans will have to decide if they are “For” or “Against” the text of the Magna Carta”, The appropriate thing would have been to write “The population has the perception that the option against will win the plebiscite” and “Chileans will have to decide if they are for or against the text of the Magna Carta.”
7. repeat itself againredundant construction
Since the verb repeat already expresses the idea that it is the second time that Chileans vote if they agree with a new Constitution, it is not necessary use periphrasis To return to + infinitive.
8. Moned PalaceOh the coinwith the article in lower case
The name of the seat of the presidency of Chile is Moneda Palaceno from La Moneda. Likewise, your abbreviated name es the coinwith the article in lower case, no The coin.
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