Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Politics Paper 1 > Referendums > Flashcards

Referendums Flashcards

1
Q

What type of democracy is referendums and what is it’s impact?

A

Referendums are direct democracy this is the purest form of democracy has the electrode can vote on issues they want changing there is also no elected representative which is commonly used in the uk and is known as representative democracy. Direct democracy can increase participation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How does the electrode vote for a referendum?

A

It’s a popular vote on a single issue put to a public ballot by the government and the electrode can vote yes or no.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What other countries use referendums?

A

Switzerland and Republic of Ireland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How did Attlee describe referendums?

A

An increase in referendums made them less alien this was said by Attlee as the electorate takes part in major constitutional change.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How many times have referendums been used in the UK?

A

Referendums have been used 13 X

1st whether Northern Ireland wanted to remain in the UK

However the first nationwide referendum was on whether the UK should join the EEC.

Latest referendum was released in 2016 on whether the UK should remain or leave the EU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Can government ignore the result of a referendum?

A

Referendums are not legally binding therefore the government does not have to implement the change this is a parliamentary sov however this is unlikely as the government will not go against the will of the people this is popular sov.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What do referendums achieve in terms of sovereignty?

A

People suggest referendums are important as it creates a divide between Parliamentary sovereignty and popular sovereignty.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which party increase the use of referendums and to where.

A

When Labour won and landslide majority in 1997 they promised in the manifesto to increase referendums so that participation would also increase.

They wanted to use referendums and the number of issues for example devolution to Wales and Scotland a referendum to the North East under labours new devolution agenda
Labour also decided using a referendum in 1998 to ensure the people’s support was behind the peace process rather than just politicians.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Who are the Electoral commission?

A

They are an independent agency that regulates party and election finance and standards on how election should be run.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What act did labour pass so the electoral commissions could have power on certain issues?

A

Political parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What power did this act give the electoral commission?

A

-Regulate finance for referendum campaigns
-All donations above £7500 must be reported
-Formulate referendum questions making sure they are not biased -Communicate with the electrote on the referendum date however government choose the date and the time of the referendum.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What did the 2022 elections act change?

A

Government passed elections at 2022 it made several changes to elections in the UK including the control of the electoral commissions this act impact elections and referendums

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What significant changes did the 2022 elections act make on how we vote?

A

Changes to proxy and postal voting as well as the requirement to show voter ID at polling stations. people who do not have ID can apply to their local authority however this is burdensome determine people from voting which lowers participation in referendums. 9% of the public do not have up to date and recognisable id.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

1975 European Economic Community

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What act brought the uk into the EEC?

A

European communities act 1972

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What happens to Wilson’s gov when the UK joined EEC?

A

There was division in his gov

16 members of the cabinet wanted to remain

7 threatened to resign unless UK abandoned its membership

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was the result of the labour conference?

A

In 1975 at the labour conference the result was 2-1 of the MEMBERSHIP voted to leave EEC.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What lead to Wilson having to go to public with a Ref?

A

His small majority of 3mps from 1974 GE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What was the publics vote?

A

A strong YES vote of 67% and a turnout of 64% from the ref allowed Wilson to claim a mandate from the electorate to enter the EEC without the collapse of his gov.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

1997 Welsh Devolution

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What type of victory did labour achieve in 1997 GE?

A

Landslide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What was their set majority?

A

179

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What did this majority give them?

A

Gave them a clear mandate to pursue their devolution agenda

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Who was the PM?

A

The ref was built on popular victory of Blair but was surrounded by controversy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What was the controversy about?

A

The yes vote was 50.3% however the turnout was 50% this lead to the tyranny of the minority. This meant that only 25% of the electorate wanted devo which does not make it legitimate for the people who voted NO.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

1997 Scotish Devolution

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Why was scot given devo and Who was supportive of the devolution agenda in?

A

It was a part of new labours manifesto of pursuing devo agenda.

Scottish nationalist were far more supportive than welsh.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What was the outcome of the referendum?

A

A resounding yes vote of 74% with a turnout of 60.4%

29
Q

What was the problem with the scot ref?

A

The Q was vague especially the 2nd ‘Should the new parliament have tax varying powers?’

Scottish voters had given permission for the Scottish parliament to have some influence over taxation but had not been specific to what margin they wanted as it wasn’t asked in the ref Q.

30
Q

1998 Northern Irish Assembly

A
31
Q

Why had the NI ref taken place?

A

Because of the Good Friday peace agreement which began the process of ending the troubles.

32
Q

Who needed to agree with the Good Friday agreement?

A

The piece was agreed by the parties but now had to be accepted by the Irish people to ensure violence ended as westM could not announce this.

33
Q

What was the ref outcome?

A

Strong yes bote of 71% with a 81% turnout .

34
Q

What did the outcome mean for NI people?

A

That supporters of violence could no longer continue in the name of Irish people.

35
Q

2004 Northeast Regional Assembly

A
36
Q

What was new labours plan?

A

attempt to spread English devo further

37
Q

What ref Q did they ask northeast people?

A

If they would support an elected assembly for their region?

38
Q

What was the outcome?

A

A resounding No vote of 79%

39
Q

What did the outcome show?

A

Ref provides a clear voice of the people rather than political elite

40
Q

Why was their a no vote?

A

Lack of nationalism in the Northeast compared to Scot therefore thought they didn’t need devo and may be satisfied with identifying and being controlled by westM as gives them a strong identity of being English.

41
Q

2014 Scottish Independence

A
42
Q

Which governing party pushed for ref and why?

A

It was the Conservative gov attempt to bring Scottish nationalism under control for a generation.

43
Q

What was keg about the campaign for the ref?

A

Their were tv debates

16-17 y were allowed to vote

44
Q

What was the turnout for the 16-17 y votes?

A

75% of under 18 choose to vote and 97% of those who did said being involved in the process encouraged them to do so again in the future this was shown in high turnout of 84%

45
Q

What were the problems with this ref and it’s outcome?

A

Not clear what scot people were offered

David Cameron offered devo max instead of indy in order to keep the union

This ref q a ref ability to solve constitutional issues

Opinion polls showed indy would win however the vote showed that 55% wanted to remain in uk and 44% wanted to be independent.

46
Q

What did YouGov poll show?

A

24% wanted Indy

33% wanted to remain in the uk

36% wanted devo max

This shows people were confused about what they were voting for and what powers were promised to Scotland.

47
Q

What did David Cameron say about the ref on tv and how did snp react?

A

The issue of Scottish Indy had been settled for a generation

How we GE Snp secured 50% of Scottish votes and 56/59 Scottish seats with a manifesto of along term goal for Indy

However the impact of brexit and Scotland voting remain in the UK the issue was known as a neverendum.

48
Q

2016 EU membership

A
49
Q

What date did the eu ref take place and what was the ref about?

A

23 June 2016 in the uk to ask whether the uk should remain or leave the eu

50
Q

Who organised the ref?

A

Organised through the European Union ref Act Act 2015 + political parties, elections and referendums Act 2000.

51
Q

Was the EU ref legally binding?

A

It was legally non-binding the gov promised to implement the result.

52
Q

Who campaigned for vote remain and what was the slogan

A

Britain Stronger in Europe became official group campaign for uk to remain on the eu it was supported by David Cameron who was pm at the time and challenger George Osborne.

53
Q

Who campaigned for vote leave and what was the slogan?

A

Vote Leave was the official group campaign for the UK to leave the EU it was supported by conservative mps BJ, Michael Gove and labour mp Gisela Stuart.

54
Q

Which parties favoured vote remain?

A

Labour
Liberal Democrats
SNP
Plaid Cymru
Green party

55
Q

Which parties supported vote leave?

A

UKIP

56
Q

Which party was neutral?
Which parties allowed mps to campaign etheir sides?

A

Conservative
Labour conservative

57
Q

What was the outcome of the ref?

A

52% leave
48% remain

58
Q

How did the markets react to the result?

A

Financial markets reacted negatively worldwide

59
Q

What did Cameron do after the result?

A

He resigned as PM and conservative leader. It was the first time the result of a ref had gone against the prefers option hog the uk gov.

60
Q

Who became pm after Cameron?

What impact did the ref leave on opposition leader?

A

Theresa may on 13 July 2016

Corbyn faced leadership challenge

61
Q

What act did parliament pass to give legal affect to the ref?

A

European Union (withdrawal) Act 2017 passing this article triggered article 50

62
Q

Evaluate the view that referendums are good/bad

A
63
Q

Advantages: Participation

A

Public are given direct control as they are able to vote on issues such as policy making or bigger constitutional issues 2016 BREXIT ref prevents voter apathy as it allows their views to reflect the policy gov make as although ref is not legally binding it’s unlikely that the gov will go against this encourages the electorate to vote increasing participation.

For example

EEC 2/3 of the population voted
2016 Eu ref turnout = 72%

64
Q

Advantages: check + Balance

A

Ref act as a check and balance on gov power especially when there is a collation or minority gov therefore ref provides a strong popular mandate over controversial issues. Citizens are protected from an over-powerful government.

Eg NorthEast Regional A resounding No vote of 79% on If they would support an elected assembly for their region. Shows it ref act as a clear voice for the pros and not the political elite limiting their power of making laws that electrode don’t agree with.

Alternative Vote referendum in 2011 produced a clear ‘no’ majority 68% which proved that there is no need to change the Westminster electoral system.

65
Q

Advantage: Constitutional changes

A

it is appropriate that constitutional changes be approved by public referendum, as they affect the way the country is governed, so are more important than ordinary laws. This ensures any newly created public body has democratic legitimacy.

The scot + welsh ref 1979

66
Q

Disadvantages: simplified into Yes/No

A

Referendums trivialise highly complex issues by oversimplifying them into a ‘yes’/’no’ vote. The UK EU referendum in 2016 proved this. Presenting the public with a straightforward question with only two possible outcomes is to ignore the details of how such decisions will be actioned. Referendums only really provide a snapshot of the public’s opinion at one point in time. Moreover, individuals tend to vote out of self-interest rather than the national interest. Weeks after the EU referendum there were calls for a second referendum, because it was felt that the public mood had changed in light of the result. In addition, the actual wording and language used in the question can be biased and affect the result, as can the timing of the vote (which is determined by the government). Scot ref 1979 The Q was vague especially the 2nd ‘Should the new parliament have tax varying powers?’
Scottish voters had given permission for the Scottish parliament to have some influence over taxation but had not been specific to what margin they wanted as it wasn’t asked in the ref Q.

67
Q

Disadvantages: Doesn’t provide a solution.

A

The Scottish independence referendum in 2014 serves as a prime example. Despite the highest turnout 85% since universal suffrage was introduced in 1928 and a clear majority of 55% voting ‘no’, the movement for Scottish independence continues to thrive.As SNP manifesto 2023 on independence for Scotland in addition 2022 scot wanted 2nd ref which SC ruled against.
Showing this is a neverendum therefore suggests that if people can’t respect the outcome of a ref that they voted for then why should we continue using them?

68
Q

Disadvantage: Ref erode parliamentary sovereignty.

A

Weakens parliament - referendums undermine parliamentary sovereignty, as decisions are not made on the basis of deliberation and debate by elected mps who are more politically moderate than the public. The general public is too easily swayed by the media and not well enough informed to make decisions that affect the constitution

69
Q

https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/media/Documents/magazine-extras/Politics%20Review/Pol%20Rev%20Vol%2027%20No%203/PoliticsReview27_3_UK_referendums.docx

A

Politics Paper 1 (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions