How referendums operate

Question 1

Outline the 7 steps present in the referendum process

Answer 1

• Governing party forms a policy
• Legislation passed determining rules, process and wording
• Parliament passes an act/delegates the authority of calling an election to another body
• Electoral Comission determines the groups that will officially participate and determines wording
• Campaign held
• Vote occurs
• Based on the outcome, result is put into force, either automatically or by initiating legislation

Question 2

Referendums are ‘ad hoc’. What does this mean?

Answer 2

They occur only when parliament allows them to be held

Question 3

What status do referendums hold legally?

Answer 3

An advisory means of testing public opinion

Question 4

What type of sovereignty can elections be seen as holding?

Answer 4

Popular or democratic soveriegnty, meaning parliament is unlikely to ignore the result, even though it has the legal right to do so

Question 5

What is the key reason for a referendum being held?

Answer 5

Because it is preferable that the people themselves should resolve an issue rather than their elected representatives

Question 6

Give the six key reasons for why a referendum may be held

Answer 6

• Entrench a constitutional reform
• Test public opinion
• Resolve conflict within political parties
• Resolve conflicts between parties sharing power
• Resolve a conflict within the wider community
• Achieve a political goal

Question 7

Give an example of an election that was used to entrech a constitutional reform?

Answer 7

Extension of devolution to wales in 2011

Question 8

Give an example of a referendum that was used to test public opinion

Answer 8

North East Assembly in 2004

Question 9

Give an example of a referendum that was used to resolve a conflict within a political party

Answer 9

The Brexit referendum in 2016

Question 10

Give an example of a referendum that was used to resolve a conflict between parties sharing power

Answer 10

AV referendum in 2011

Question 11

Give an example of a referendum used to resolve a conflict within the wider community

Answer 11

The Good Friday Agreement in 1998

Question 12

Give an example of a referendum used to achieve a politicxal goal

Answer 12

Scottish Independence in 2014

Question 13

How do referendums and elections differ in terms of the regularity at which they are held?

Answer 13

Elections are held regularly, by law. Whereas elections are held ad hoc, at the discression of parliament

Question 14

How do referendums and elections differ in terms of the number of policies addressed?

Answer 14

Elections concern multipe issues, while referendums are generally single issues

Question 15

How do referendums and elections differ in terms of choice?

Answer 15

Elections normally have a variety of choices and potential outcomes, while elections usually involve a single, binary choice and a single outcome

Question 16

How do referendums and elections differ in terms of legal status?

Answer 16

Referendums are not legally binding, whereas elections are

Question 17

How do referendums and elections differ in terms of why people vote?

Answer 17

In elections, people vote to fill an office or choose a government. In referendums, people vote to decide upon an issue

Question 18

What is the crucial similarity between elections and referendums?

Answer 18

They both provide legitimacy. With elections, this is in the form of a mandate for their policies. With referendums, the public grant the government authority to implement a specific decision