Democracy+Referendums

Question 1

What did Anglo-Irish Edmund Burke say about representative democracy in 1774?

Answer 1

‘Your representative owes you not his industry only but his judgement’

Question 2

Where is the origins for direct democracy?

Answer 2

classical Athens c.500bc

Question 3

What is a referendum?

Answer 3

a referendum is a vote on a single issue normally in the form of a question requiring a yes or no answer

Question 4

What was there a referendum for in Eire in 1995?

Answer 4

to legalise divorce

Question 5

How many referendums a year are there in Switzerland?

Answer 5

about 4

Question 6

What was the percentage of yes and no in Switzerland when there was a referendum on whether to join the UN?

Answer 6

55%-yes

45%- no

Question 7

In what place for example can petition for a referendum if they get enough signatures?

Answer 7

some US states

Question 8

What Proposition 184 in California?

Answer 8

they created a 25 year sentence for those convicted of a serious felony for the 3rd time

Question 9

In Italy, how many people need to support the want of a referendum for one to happen?

Answer 9

500,000

Question 10

What is New Zealands Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993?

Answer 10

a non-binding referendum only requires 10% of electorate support

Question 11

What did Clement Attlee say about referendums in the 1940’s?

Answer 11

‘alien to our traditions’

Question 12

Why can referendums undermine our government?

Answer 12

We elect government to make decisions on our behalf as a representative democracy

Question 13

When in the UK will a referendum take place?

Answer 13

when there is a major constitutional change

Question 14

What was the % of no to yes vote in May 2011 or a proposed AV voting for elections to Westminster Parliament ? what was the turnout ?

Answer 14

yes- 32%
no-68%

turnout-42%

Question 15

How do referendums offer a more direct form of democracy?

Answer 15

They encourage participation by allowing citizens to have a real input on key decisions that matter to them (e.g adoption of the euro)

Question 16

What is an example of when referendums have provided a way of focusing on

• renewing mandate on an issue
• legitimising major constitutional changes?

Answer 16

-referendums held ahead of the creation of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly

Question 17

Why is it an argument in favour of referendums that they can prevent dangerous divisions within political parties over controversial issues?

Answer 17

As this prevents governments from collapsing and therefore provides greater continuity in government

Question 18

What is an example of when a referendum has prevented dangerous divisions political parties over controversial issues?

Answer 18

in the 1975 referendum in UK membership of the EEC, which minimised the damage done by divines within the Labour cabinet

Question 19

Why are referendums helpful when Parliament is deadlocked?

Answer 19

This provides a clear and final answer

Question 20

Why is it a disadvantage of referendums that they are inconsistent with our system of parliamentary government?

Answer 20

They therefore undermine representative democracy by allowing governments to duck their responsibility to govern

Question 21

What is a possible disadvantage of too many referendums?

Answer 21

could lead to apathy and low turnouts

Question 22

Why are low turnouts a possible disadvantage?

Answer 22

could result in a tyranny of the organised minority

Question 23

What can referendums undermine which is a disadvantage?

Answer 23

can undermine a collective responsibility in cabinet

Question 24

What is an example which shows that some issues are too complicated too be condensed into a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’?

Answer 24

for example, a decision such as joining the euro should be put into the hands of those who have an understanding of the economy not the general public

Question 25

Why can differential funding for ‘yes’ or ‘no’ campaigns be a disadvantage of referendums?

Answer 25

the campaigns may not be on an even playing field

Question 26

What is an example of when the ‘yes’ campaign in a referendum was better funded than the ‘non’ campaign?

Answer 26

1975, should the UK stay in the EEC

67.2%

Question 27

Why was there critique regarding the 1975 referendum ballot paper which said “Should the UK stay in the European Community”?

Answer 27

Some say this encourages a yes vote because people were more likely to vote in favour of the status quo

Question 28

What is an example of when governments have not considered the outcome of a referendum?

Answer 28

the vote for a Scottish Parliament in 1979 and 1997

Question 29

What was the votes for ‘yes’ to a Scottish Parliament in 1979 and 1997?

Answer 29

1979-51.6%

1997-74.3%

Question 30

What was set up under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) which the precise wording of any future referendum had to be approved by?

Answer 30

the Electoral Commission

Question 31

Who threatened legal action over factual inaccuracies of the ‘no’ campaign for the May 2011 UK-wide referendum on AV ?

Answer 31

Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne