i) Referendums

Question 1

What is a referendum?

Answer 1

A vote on a specific issue requiring a yes/no answer

Question 2

Who can call a referendum?

Answer 2

The government

Question 3

What type of democracy is it?

Answer 3

A tool of direct democracy within a representative democracy

Question 4

Who oversees how referendums are run?

Answer 4

Electoral Commission

Question 5

Why are referendums held?

Answer 5

• To safeguard a major constitutional change eg. Referendum on Good Friday Agreement 1998
• To decide a major constitutional issue eg. EU membership 2016
• To reach a decision when the governing party is split eg. EU membership (Tories split)
• To unite the nation on a divisive issue eg. Scottish Independence 2014
• Deal between coalition partners eg. 2011 referendum on replacing FPTP with AV

Question 6

Describe the Devolution in Wales Referendum

Answer 6

• 1997
• Turnout 50%
• Yes = 50.3% No = 49.7%

Question 7

Describe the Northeast England Devolution Referendum

Answer 7

• 2004
• Turnout 48%
• Yes = 22% No = 78%

Question 8

Describe the Scottish Independence Referendum

Answer 8

• 2014
• Turnout 85%
• Yes = 45% No = 55%

Question 9

Describe the EU (Remain?) Referendum

Answer 9

• 2016
• Turnout 72%
• Yes = 48% No = 52%

Question 10

What are the key arguments in favour of referendums?

Answer 10

1. Purest form of democracy as direct particularly when turnout is high, and margin is clear - Scottish Independence
2. Approves significant constitutional change
3. Heal divisions and can be a solution withing parties (weak)
4. Act as a check on power of the executive between elections
5. Encourages participation, engagement, and education

Question 11

What are the key arguments against referendums?

Answer 11

1. Challenge representative democracy which is what we elect representatives to do – referendums bypass scrutiny, amendment, debate, compromise etc.
2. Challenge parliamentary sovereignty – key principle of constitution eg. Gina Miller won SC case on this issue that Article 50 to trigger Brexit couldn’t be done with consulting Parliament first
3. Over-simplify complex questions that may not be suited to a “yes” or “no” answer
4. Low turnout reduces the legitimacy eg. Welsh devolution
5. Increases divisions eg. Brexit
6. Insufficient information for pubic to make an informed decision eg. Vote Leave claiming that £350 million a week could be used to put into NHS