What is required for citizens to initiate a popular referendum?

To initiate a popular referendum, a specific number of signatures on a petition is typically required. This process empowers citizens to directly influence legislation or policy decisions by gathering support from a defined number of registered voters. The number of signatures and the rules governing the petition can vary by jurisdiction, but this method is foundational in facilitating direct democracy.

The other options do not align with the mechanism of initiating a popular referendum. Approval from elected officials would negate the grassroots nature of a referendum, indicating that the citizens would not have the power to independently call for such a vote. Similarly, a majority vote in the legislature contradicts the core idea of a referendum, which is to directly involve voters rather than legislators in decision-making. Lastly, faculty endorsement from academic institutions has no bearing on the legal or procedural requirements for initiating a referendum, as it does not reflect the democratic engagement necessary for such an action.