referenda

Question 1

how do referenda get people more involved in democracy ?

Answer 1

• gives people a direct say in making decisions that affect them
• increases political participation

Question 2

what was the turnout @ brexit?

Answer 2

72.2%

Question 3

what is the only referendum where the result has been ignored?

Answer 3

1979 Scottish referendum

Question 4

what were the results of the 1979 Scottish referendum

Answer 4

51% voted yes

32.9% turnout

Question 5

why was the 1979 Scottish referendum ignored ?

Answer 5

there was an amendment to the 1979 Scotland act that said it would be repealed if the turnout was less than 40%

Question 6

when did the European reform group send their letter to the PM?

Answer 6

6th feb 2018

Question 7

how many MPs signed the letter? (including who?)

Answer 7

64 MPs, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Ian Duncan Smith

Question 8

what did they want (European reform group)?

Answer 8

suggesting ways to secure a hard brexit

Question 9

how many Labour MPs and camppaginers wrote their letter

Answer 9

30

Question 10

who was the labour letter to?

Answer 10

the chair of Labour national executive committee

Question 11

what did they want? (labour)

Answer 11

urged him to consult their 500,000 members on their brexit policy

Question 12

what was the turnout at the 2011 AV referendum ?

Answer 12

42.2%

Question 13

why are referendums bad for representative democracy?

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

why does the public being less educated damage democracy

Answer 14

they can be easily manipulated e.g. brexit

Question 15

what was the leave campaign promise regarding the NHS

Answer 15

we send the EU £350 million a week, lets fund our NHS instead

Question 16

what was the vote split at Brexit?

Answer 16

51. 9% leave

48. 1% remain

Question 17

what do momentum want to do regarding nationalisation

Answer 17

reverse privatisation of railways, energy sector and and public services

Question 18

what do momentum want to do regarding redistribution

Answer 18

redistribute wealth and power from the few to the many

Question 19

what is a party faction?

Answer 19

an organised group of politicians or supports who share a political viewpoint, set of ideas or loyalty to an individual or group

Question 20

why are referenda good for lib democ?

Answer 20

ensure limited got

Question 21

how do referenda ensure limited govt?

Answer 21

• power and decision given to people

- help to prevent Lord Hailsham’s ‘elective dictatorship’

Question 22

in 2016, what were the people asked in EU referendum?

Answer 22

whether they wanted to leave or remain in the EU

Question 23

why did EU referendum show limited govt?

Answer 23

decision made by people not govt

Question 24

what could govt have done instead of referendum, regarding EU?

Answer 24

• put the question to parl

- pushed it through to get result they wanted - via use of whips

Question 25

why would it have been bad if govt had put EU question to parl?

Answer 25

- result wouldn't have reflected views of people | - 73% of MPs voted to remain vs 51% of British public voted leave

Question 26

how do referenda not ensure limited govt?

Answer 26

they are not binding

Question 27

what can govt technically do with referenda?

Answer 27

ignore the result - ignore the will of the people

Question 28

what was the 1979 Scottish referendum on?

Answer 28

whether they wanted to create a devolved assembly

Question 29

what was the result of the 1979 Scottish referendum? what did govt do?

Answer 29

- 51.9% voted yes but turnout = 32.9% | - govt ignored it and didn't give Scotland devolved powers

Question 30

why did 1979 Scottish referendum show they can be bad for democracy?

Answer 30

- they can be rejected by govt | - will of people can be denied = v. undemocratic

Question 31

why can govt ignore referenda?

Answer 31

parl is sovereign

Question 32

in reality, would parl ignore result of referendum?

Answer 32

- no -it would be political suicide | - electorate would hold them to account at the next general election

Question 33

why did govt deny 1979 Scottish referendum?

Answer 33

in 1978 Scotland act, there was an amendment stating referendum would be repealed if the turnout was below 40%

Question 34

who does sovereignty lie with? (de jure v de facto)

Answer 34

- de jure with Parl | - de facto with people

Question 35

what kind of democracy are referenda?

Answer 35

direct democracy - exact opposite rep democ

Question 36

how do referenda undermine rep democ?

Answer 36

- undermine trustee model, instead following opposite model | - delegate model

Question 37

what does referenda mean for MPs?

Answer 37

makes job of MPs void

Question 38

what does public being less educated mean?

Answer 38

susceptible to being easily manipulated by campaigners

Question 39

how were public deceived in 2016 EU ref?

Answer 39

- 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

Question 40

how did people being deceived in 2016 weaken democracy?

Answer 40

- wasn't actually will of people, it was will of elite | - manipulated people into thinking what they want them to think

Question 41

who should make decisions for people?

Answer 41

elected representatives who are educated and informed to make best decision for people using their judgement

Question 42

what have referenda lead to an increase in?

Answer 42

political participation

Question 43

what can referenda do to legislation =?

Answer 43

legitimise any following legislation - provided there is a high turnout

Question 44

what was turnout for EU referendum?

Answer 44

74%

Question 45

why does high turnout make subsequent legislation legitimate?

Answer 45

- high % of electorate voted - will of people represented well - MPs to get to scrutinise actual bill and details

Question 46

are high turnouts for referenda common?

Answer 46

no - public is widely politically apathetic

Question 47

what was turnout in AV referendum in 2011?

Answer 47

42.4%

Question 48

why does low turnout not help democracy?

Answer 48

true will of people not represented