8. What are the arguments supporting the use of referendums?

Question 1

Why can referendums be argued to provide a stronger mandate for important reforms than elections?

Answer 1

Do elections give a clear mandate:
- Many elections have low turnout
- Most representatives fail to win a majority of the vote
- Few voters will read the manifestos
- Voters might support some of a party’s policies, but likely not all of them

However, referendums give a clearer mandate:
- They give the public a direct vote on a single issue
- This makes the decision made after the referendum very legitimate

Question 2

What was the Good Friday Agreement? How did a referendum help the agreement?

Answer 2

The good Friday agreement was a peace agreement between the British and Irish government, and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland, about the future governance of Northern Ireland. The agreement established a Northern Ireland Assembly, where both nationalists and unionists would share power in government.

Good Friday Agreement Referendum:
For – 71%
Against – 29%
Turnout – 81%

Question 3

How did referendums help the Labour government in the 1970s?

Answer 3

In the 70’s, Harold Wilson’s Labour government was sharply divided over the UK’s membership of the European Economic Community.
- 16 cabinet members – wanted the UK to remain in the EEC
- 7 cabinet members – wanted the UK to leave the EEC

European Economic Communities membership referendum (1975):
- Remain – 17,378,581 (67%)
- Leave – 8,470,073 (33%)
- Turnout – 65%

Question 4

What are entrenched laws?

Answer 4

Entrenched Laws – Laws that have a more difficult process for amendment or repeal than normal laws e.g. amending the entrenched laws in the US constitution requires a 2/3 supermajority vote

Question 5

Why can referendums be said to entrench UK constitutional reforms, even though Parliament is sovereign?

Answer 5

Legally, parliament could ignore the results of referendum, or overturn them at a later date e.g. parliament could abolish the Scottish Parliament even though voters approved it in ’79.

Politically, public pressure, and the threat of the next election makes this very difficult.

Question 6

What impact can referendums have on political participation?

Answer 6

They can educate people due to the media coverage around referendums

Scottish Independence Referendum: included 16 and 17 year olds – with around 75% participating

After the referendum 97% of 16-17 year olds who voted said that they would vote again in future referendums and elections, while the other 3% ‘didn’t know’

Question 7

What is the Electoral Commission, and what influence does it have on UK referendums?

Answer 7

The Electoral Commission helps to ensure that referendums are conducted fairly.

It was created by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000)

What does Electoral Commission do?:
- Designates an official ‘lead campaign’ group for each side of the debate – given free postage
- Oversees and allocates grants of up to £600,000 to each ‘lead campaign’ group
- Posts information to all voters, explaining what the referendum is on and how to take part
- Any donations to a campaign over £7,500 must be disclosed to the Electoral Commission
- The Electoral Commission also monitors referendum questions and recommends changes if they are found to be biased or unfair