Referendums

Question 1

what are the 4 different types of referendums?

Answer 1

advisory, pre legislative, post legislative, unofficial

Question 2

advisory referendum

Answer 2

allows people to express opinions, not binding - usually to settle divisive issue

Question 3

pre legislative referendum

Answer 3

held before law is passed to dictate what law will pass - Brexit and Scottish Indy Ref

Question 4

post legislative referendum

Answer 4

held after a law is passed to confirm if people are satisfied or not

Question 5

unofficial referendum

Answer 5

without clear mandate and usually controversial, used to pressure a government

Question 6

reasons refs are held

Answer 6

• gain legitimacy for political or constitutional change
• honor political agreement
• confirm decisions taken by previous governments
• to please supporters
• as a response to public mood

Question 7

example of legitimacy gained from referendum

Answer 7

the Good Friday Agreement 1998 referendum - to end the Troubles in NI

Question 8

example of using ref to honour political agreement

Answer 8

AV referendum 2011 - coalition where LDs wanted constitutional change for electoral system

Question 9

example of using ref to confirm decision made by previous government

Answer 9

EEC referendum in 1975 promised by previous Labour government

Question 10

example of using ref to please political supporters

Answer 10

Brexit ref by David Cameron in 2016 - also helped settle long standing constitutional issue resulting in party divide
but - also done to prevent UKIP stealing more seats (12.6% voteshare, only 1 seat)

Question 11

example of using ref to respond to public mood

Answer 11

Scottish Indy Ref in 2014 - tested public mood and was mandate from the public for Scotland to be independent as SNP in power from 2007

Question 12

strengths of referendums

Answer 12

• provide check on elective dictatorship - as not all general elections mean the public has been heard, esp large majorities
• raise awareness of issues
• allow for single issue to be addressed on own merit
• settle controversial and divisive issues
• give equal say to each voter

Question 13

weaknesses of referendums

Answer 13

• emotionalised and undemocratic campaigns - unbalanced
• reduce complex issues to oversimplified simple questions
• held only at government discretion - not really exercising direct democracy
• can be hijacked by other issues
• give power to uneducated voters
• tyranny of majority - winning side claims all the authority and large electorate proportion is dismissed

Question 14

how did people vote in AV ref?

Answer 14

most people voted no to the proposed electoral reform in protest to the Lib Dems as it was their proposal and the general public attitude was negative due to them not upholding promises in coalition government - tuition fees tripling rather than being reduced