the wording of the referendum question was a subject of debate between members of the parti québécois caucus. some preferred a simple wording focused on quebec becoming sovereign from canada. lévesque realised that sovereignty-association would require negotiations with the government of canada. lévesque decided that the question would be written so that it gave the government of quebec the power to negotiate with the government of canada, and that if the referendum passed, they would have a second referendum after making an agreement with the canadian government so that quebecers could approve the deal or vote against it. he also felt the safety of a second referendum would convince swing voters to vote "yes."