referenda

Question 1

define referendum

Answer 1

• a regional, national or local vote in which qualified voters are asked one single yes or no answer question about a proposal

Question 2

3 ways a referendum is different to an election

Answer 2

• only a yes or no answer
• held if and when parliament chooses
• not legally binding to parliament

Question 3

give some examples of referendums

Answer 3

• Brexit 2016
• Scottish independence 2014
  FPTP to AV 2011
• Belfast agreement 1998 81% turnout

Question 4

case for referendums
- purest form
- mend rifts
- solve conflicts

Answer 4

• PUREST FORM OF DEMOCRACY uncorrupted by representative democracy, will of the people demonstrated —> BREXIT
• MEND SOCIATAL RIFTS —> 1998 belfast agreement 81% turnout and 71.7% agreed
• SOLVE CONFLICTS within a political system and so stave off a crisis —> EU referendums in 1975 and 2016

Question 5

case for referendums
- consent
- decisions

Answer 5

• useful when the will of the people is necessary and the EXPRESSED rather than IMPLIED (through an MP) consent of the electorate is needed —> devolution 1997
• people are more informed now than they were in the past —> internet, social media = capable of making their own decisions rather than relying on an elected rep.

Question 6

case against referendums
- complex
- rifts
- excessive

Answer 6

• people may not be able to understand complexity of issues such as leaving the EU or a new electoral system —> get educated very useful to know
• can cause social rifts —> indiref 2014, Brexit 2016 —> norms have to be questioned in order for there to be change
• excessive use could undermine the authority of a representative democracy —> not a strong enough issue, if elected representatives really show the will of those who voted for them then their votes in parliament shouldn’t different from the referendums result, is asking for the people’s consent excessive??

Question 7

case against referendums
- tyranny
- emotions
- options

Answer 7

• can lead to tyranny of the majority —> the scotts voted strongly to stay in the EU in 2016 but claim they were tyrannised by the English majority REMAIN = 62%
• people can be swayed by short term emotions rather than rational appeals
• some questions cannot be reduced to a simple yes/no answer —> 2011 electoral reform referendums, several options shouldve been considered

Question 8

what are the functions of elections
PREMA

Answer 8

• Participation
• Representation - in HoC
• Education
• Mandate - democratic legitimacy
• Accountability - to be able to be held to scrutiny