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Brexit

#Brexit: Questions you're too embarrassed to ask

Mary Bowerman
USA TODAY Network
A campaigner hands out leaflets for 'Britain Stronger in Europe', the official 'Remain' campaign group seeking to avoid a Brexit outside Waterloo station, ahead of the forthcoming EU referendum in London on June 20, 2016.

Nope, #Brexit is not a clever nickname for a British politician.

Britain will vote Thursday on whether the country should exit the European Union. The word is a play on the words Britain and exit. Get it? "Brexit."

Explainer: The what, when and why of 'Brexit'

Why should I care?

It could be bad for the U.S. economy.

The EU is the largest trading partner for the United States and an exit by Britain would undermine the powerhouse that is the EU.

Can they do that? 

The vote on the question is not legally binding but British Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to abide by it. If Brexit passes, the British Parliament would have to repeal EU membership laws.

Will this impact my favorite soccer team?

Brexit could mean that several hundred EU players for the Premier League could now require work permits to play soccer in Britain.

Former soccer star David Beckham plans to vote against Brexit, he posted on Facebook. He noted that when he began playing for Manchester United, the team was better for having a slew of players from other EU countries.

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What about my flight to London?

Americans with a valid passport can still travel to the U.K., but customs lines may be longer, according to Bloomberg.

Why? If Brexit happens, EU citizens could be joining Americans and other international travelers in non-British customs lines.

And what about my other European travel while I'm there? 

Thinking about grabbing a cheap flight to another EU country while visiting Britain? You might rethink your home base if Brexit passes.

In May, Cameron warned that if Britain leaves the EU, the cost of travel from Britain to other popular EU destinations could rise. That would especially ring true for citizens of Britain.

What about America’s relationship with the rest of the EU?

Things could become a bit more difficult.

The British are "our window into the European Union," according to retired general Wesley Clark, former NATO commander. As a strong ally of the U.S., Britain provides valuable information to American intelligence agencies about the inner workings of the EU, a benefit that would be lost should Brexit pass.

Got it. Remind me, when is this vote?

Thursday.

Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, Jane Onyanga-Omara and Gregg Zoroya

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