referenda Flashcards
how do referenda get people more involved in democracy ?
- gives people a direct say in making decisions that affect them
- increases political participation
what was the turnout @ brexit?
72.2%
what is the only referendum where the result has been ignored?
1979 Scottish referendum
what were the results of the 1979 Scottish referendum
51% voted yes
32.9% turnout
why was the 1979 Scottish referendum ignored ?
there was an amendment to the 1979 Scotland act that said it would be repealed if the turnout was less than 40%
when did the European reform group send their letter to the PM?
6th feb 2018
how many MPs signed the letter? (including who?)
64 MPs, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Ian Duncan Smith
what did they want (European reform group)?
suggesting ways to secure a hard brexit
how many Labour MPs and camppaginers wrote their letter
30
who was the labour letter to?
the chair of Labour national executive committee
what did they want? (labour)
urged him to consult their 500,000 members on their brexit policy
what was the turnout at the 2011 AV referendum ?
42.2%
why are referendums bad for representative democracy?
- we have elected representatives to make decisions on our behalf but not using them
- they are more educated and informed to make the best decision compared to the public
why does the public being less educated damage democracy
they can be easily manipulated e.g. brexit
what was the leave campaign promise regarding the NHS
we send the EU £350 million a week, lets fund our NHS instead
what was the vote split at Brexit?
- 9% leave
48. 1% remain
what do momentum want to do regarding nationalisation
reverse privatisation of railways, energy sector and and public services
what do momentum want to do regarding redistribution
redistribute wealth and power from the few to the many
what is a party faction?
an organised group of politicians or supports who share a political viewpoint, set of ideas or loyalty to an individual or group
why are referenda good for lib democ?
ensure limited got
how do referenda ensure limited govt?
- power and decision given to people
- help to prevent Lord Hailsham’s ‘elective dictatorship’
in 2016, what were the people asked in EU referendum?
whether they wanted to leave or remain in the EU
why did EU referendum show limited govt?
decision made by people not govt
what could govt have done instead of referendum, regarding EU?
- put the question to parl
- pushed it through to get result they wanted - via use of whips
why would it have been bad if govt had put EU question to parl?
- result wouldn’t have reflected views of people
- 73% of MPs voted to remain vs 51% of British public voted leave
how do referenda not ensure limited govt?
they are not binding
what can govt technically do with referenda?
ignore the result - ignore the will of the people
what was the 1979 Scottish referendum on?
whether they wanted to create a devolved assembly
what was the result of the 1979 Scottish referendum? what did govt do?
- 51.9% voted yes but turnout = 32.9%
- govt ignored it and didn’t give Scotland devolved powers
why did 1979 Scottish referendum show they can be bad for democracy?
- they can be rejected by govt
- will of people can be denied = v. undemocratic
why can govt ignore referenda?
parl is sovereign
in reality, would parl ignore result of referendum?
- no -it would be political suicide
- electorate would hold them to account at the next general election
why did govt deny 1979 Scottish referendum?
in 1978 Scotland act, there was an amendment stating referendum would be repealed if the turnout was below 40%
who does sovereignty lie with? (de jure v de facto)
- de jure with Parl
- de facto with people
what kind of democracy are referenda?
direct democracy - exact opposite rep democ
how do referenda undermine rep democ?
- undermine trustee model, instead following opposite model
- delegate model
what does referenda mean for MPs?
makes job of MPs void
what does public being less educated mean?
susceptible to being easily manipulated by campaigners
how were public deceived in 2016 EU ref?
- leave campaign claimed ‘ we send EU £350m a week, lets fund our NHS instead’
- figure later proven to be completely false
- large proportion of people believed it and subsequently voted leave
how did people being deceived in 2016 weaken democracy?
- wasn’t actually will of people, it was will of elite
- manipulated people into thinking what they want them to think
who should make decisions for people?
elected representatives who are educated and informed to make best decision for people using their judgement
what have referenda lead to an increase in?
political participation
what can referenda do to legislation =?
legitimise any following legislation - provided there is a high turnout
what was turnout for EU referendum?
74%
why does high turnout make subsequent legislation legitimate?
- high % of electorate voted
- will of people represented well
- MPs to get to scrutinise actual bill and details
are high turnouts for referenda common?
no - public is widely politically apathetic
what was turnout in AV referendum in 2011?
42.4%
why does low turnout not help democracy?
true will of people not represented
