referendums

Question 1

pros

Answer 1

increases legitimacy of policy or decisions
purest form of democracy
people express their opinions
encourages participation - 72% turnout for Brexit referendum
unites a party eg BJ’s Brexit party

Question 2

Cons

Answer 2

highly orchestrated by govt - they decide when and what
divide a party eg May’s party
false information + people not well informed - eg Andrea’ Leedsom gave false info - we give £350 million / week to the EU
tyranny of the majority - 48% voted remain + 3.3 million EU citizens could not vote
undermines parliamentary sovereignty
can be abused eg Hitler, Putin in Donetsk
complex problems simplified into yes/no

Question 3

process

Answer 3

1. become party policy
2. wording decided by electoral commission
3. parliament approves
4. results
5. govt carries out decisions (ideally)

Question 4

examples

Answer 4

1979 - devolution for Scotland - YES
1998 - used to legitimise the Belfast agreement - YES
2011 - electoral reform - offered AV - NO
2014 - Scottish independence - 16 +17 yr olds could vote for the first time - v close but NO
2016 - Brexit Ref - 52% YES
- voteLeave fined for electoral fraud