Chapter 3 - Referendums (NOT FINAL)

Question 1

When was a referendum held on UK membership of the European Community?

Answer 1

1975

Question 2

When had the UK joined the European Community?

Answer 2

1973

Question 3

When was the next national referendum held after 1975?

Answer 3

2011

Question 4

What are the 2 recent ground-breaking referendums that have established the device as part of the UK Constitution?

Answer 4

• 2014 Scottish Independence
• 2016 BREXIT

Question 5

What is a referendum?

Answer 5

A vote in response to a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question.

Question 6

Why might a referendum be used to settle a question rather than elected representatives?

Answer 6

• The issue may be of Constitutional importance so the people should decide.
• The issue may cause so much conflict within the political system that a referendum is the only way of resolving it.
• Can solve conflict within society (1998 Belfast Agreement).

Question 7

When was a referendum held in Scotland on devolving powers and creating a Parliament?

Answer 7

1997

Question 8

Why was the referendum on Scottish devolution held in 1997?

Answer 8

It was of constitutional significance so needed popular consent.

Question 9

What was the turnout for the 1997 Scottish referendum?

Answer 9

60%

Question 10

How many people voted in favour of a Scottish Parliament and devolved powers in 1997?

Answer 10

74.3%

Question 11

Why was a Welsh Assembly created and not a Parliament?

Answer 11

Only 50% voted in favour on a 50% turnout.

Question 12

Why was a referendum on introducing the alternative vote system held?

Answer 12

• It was part of the Lib Dem’s manifesto.
• The coalition government was divided on the issue.
• It was a major change to the political system.

Question 13

How many people voted against introducing AV in 2011?

Answer 13

67.9%

Question 14

When was a referendum held on adopting the Belfast Agreement in NI?

Answer 14

1998

Question 15

Are the results of referendums legally binding?

Answer 15

No, but it is unthinkable they would be ignored.

Question 16

What does the Electoral Commission do during referendum campaigns?

Answer 16

• They regulate the expenditure on campaigns to ensure each side spends approximately the same.
• They ensure that both sides do not issue false information.

Question 17

Who decides what issues should be put to a referendum vote in the UK?

Answer 17

The government and Parliament; in the USA the public have the ability to trigger a referendum.

Question 18

What are the differences between referendums and elections?

Answer 18

• Referendums are on single issues.
• Referendums just ask for a simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’ whereas elections have more varied outcomes.
• Elections are meant to happen at regular intervals.

Question 19

What is the crucial similarity between elections and referendums?

Answer 19

They both grant legitimacy to decisions, granting authority to implement something.

Question 20

How do governments tend to use referendums?

Answer 20

To secure direct consent for policies they would have introduced themselves.

Question 21

Why should a government only hold a referendum if they are confident they will win?

Answer 21

If they were to lose it would be a severe blow to their authority, as happened to David Cameron.

Question 22

What did the result of the Scottish Independence referendum lead to?

Answer 22

Greater powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

Question 23

How did the Scots vote in the 2016 EU referendum?

Answer 23

62% voted to remain.

Question 24

What are the arguments in favour of using referendums?

Answer 24

• Purest form of democracy.
• They can mend rifts in society.
• Solve conflicts in the political system.
• People are more informed now.

Question 25

What are the arguments against using referendums?

Answer 25

• Issues may be too complex.
• Cause social rifts.
• Tyranny of the majority.
• Voters may be swayed by emotions and false information.
• Reduces complex issues to simple binaries (2011)

Question 26

What are the advantages of representative democracy when making key decisions as opposed to referendums?

Answer 26

• Representatives are not swayed by emotion.
• Elected politicians have advisors to help them make informed decisions.
• Representatives have to consider all interests whereas voters only consider themselves.

Question 27

What are the advantages of representative democracy when making key decisions as opposed to referendums?

Answer 27

• Representatives are not swayed by emotion.
• Elected politicians have advisors to help them make informed decisions.
• Representatives have to consider all interests whereas voters only consider themselves.