Democracy+Referendums Flashcards
What did Anglo-Irish Edmund Burke say about representative democracy in 1774?
‘Your representative owes you not his industry only but his judgement’
Where is the origins for direct democracy?
classical Athens c.500bc
What is a referendum?
a referendum is a vote on a single issue normally in the form of a question requiring a yes or no answer
What was there a referendum for in Eire in 1995?
to legalise divorce
How many referendums a year are there in Switzerland?
about 4
What was the percentage of yes and no in Switzerland when there was a referendum on whether to join the UN?
55%-yes
45%- no
In what place for example can petition for a referendum if they get enough signatures?
some US states
What Proposition 184 in California?
they created a 25 year sentence for those convicted of a serious felony for the 3rd time
In Italy, how many people need to support the want of a referendum for one to happen?
500,000
What is New Zealands Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993?
a non-binding referendum only requires 10% of electorate support
What did Clement Attlee say about referendums in the 1940’s?
‘alien to our traditions’
Why can referendums undermine our government?
We elect government to make decisions on our behalf as a representative democracy
When in the UK will a referendum take place?
when there is a major constitutional change
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 ?
yes- 32%
no-68%
turnout-42%
How do referendums offer a more direct form of democracy?
They encourage participation by allowing citizens to have a real input on key decisions that matter to them (e.g adoption of the euro)
What is an example of when referendums have provided a way of focusing on
- renewing mandate on an issue
- legitimising major constitutional changes?
-referendums held ahead of the creation of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly
Why is it an argument in favour of referendums that they can prevent dangerous divisions within political parties over controversial issues?
As this prevents governments from collapsing and therefore provides greater continuity in government
What is an example of when a referendum has prevented dangerous divisions political parties over controversial issues?
in the 1975 referendum in UK membership of the EEC, which minimised the damage done by divines within the Labour cabinet
Why are referendums helpful when Parliament is deadlocked?
This provides a clear and final answer
Why is it a disadvantage of referendums that they are inconsistent with our system of parliamentary government?
They therefore undermine representative democracy by allowing governments to duck their responsibility to govern
What is a possible disadvantage of too many referendums?
could lead to apathy and low turnouts
Why are low turnouts a possible disadvantage?
could result in a tyranny of the organised minority
What can referendums undermine which is a disadvantage?
can undermine a collective responsibility in cabinet
What is an example which shows that some issues are too complicated too be condensed into a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’?
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
Why can differential funding for ‘yes’ or ‘no’ campaigns be a disadvantage of referendums?
the campaigns may not be on an even playing field
What is an example of when the ‘yes’ campaign in a referendum was better funded than the ‘non’ campaign?
1975, should the UK stay in the EEC
67.2%
Why was there critique regarding the 1975 referendum ballot paper which said “Should the UK stay in the European Community”?
Some say this encourages a yes vote because people were more likely to vote in favour of the status quo
What is an example of when governments have not considered the outcome of a referendum?
the vote for a Scottish Parliament in 1979 and 1997
What was the votes for ‘yes’ to a Scottish Parliament in 1979 and 1997?
1979-51.6%
1997-74.3%
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?
the Electoral Commission
Who threatened legal action over factual inaccuracies of the ‘no’ campaign for the May 2011 UK-wide referendum on AV ?
Liberal Democrat Chris Huhne
