3 Referendums Flashcards
WhEN have referendums been used in the UK?
Give more power to the Welsh Assembly
Consider replacing FPTP
Give Scotland a vote on independence
Give the UK public a vote on leaving the EU
Why might a government call a referendum?
In response to public pressure.
To resolve controversial issues within a party.
As part of an agreement between two parties.
Lend legitimacy to constitutional changes.
What is an example of a government calling a referendum due to public pressure?
2014 Scottish Indy Ref due to majority SNP government.
2016 EU Ref due to UKIP arguing for leaving EU and promising a referendum, the Conservative Party offered a referendum to not lose it’s voters to UKIP.
What is a feature of a referendum that most tend to neglect?
As Parliament is sovereign, they can just ignore a referendum’s results as it is simply advisory.
Why does the Supreme Courts case ensuring that parliament would follow the EU referendum mean little?
Parliament could pass another law that ignores the Supreme Court as sovereignty lies with Parliament.
Why has Parliament followed the result of every referendum in UK history?
Public pressure would make not following the result highly unadvisable.
What was a common demand after the Brexit referendum?
Another referendum on EU membership. BUT May argued that to not deliver on the original referendum would threaten social cohesion by ignoring the democratic will of the people.
What is a referendum an example of?
Direct democracy.
What does the UK representative democracy hinge upon?
The ‘trustee model’, with elected officials being allowed to use their conscience to act in the best interests of the governed.
Are referendums good for the UK? (Yes)
Encourage participation and education.
Provided a clear answer to political issues.
Enhanced liberal democracy.
The management of referendums is overseen by an independent Electoral Commission.
Enhanced representation in the UK.
Accepted constitutional convention.
Are referendums good for the UK? (No)
Turnout for some has been low, undermining legitimacy of result.
Close results are more divisive than settling.
Some campaigns have been massively misleading.
Government decides when to call a referendum, meaning power is concentrated in the government.
Undermines representative democracy.
Issues are often complex with voters lacking necessary information.
Parliamentary sovereignty is undermined in reality as pressure from the people to honour the will of the people.
