REFERENDUMS

Question 1

HOW DOES A REFERENDUM WORK?

Answer 1

GOVT DIRECTLY ASKS CITIZENSTO VOTE ON A QUESTION OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE. FRAMED IN THE FORM OF A BINARY Q (YES OR NO)

Question 2

WHY WOULD A GOVT CALL A REFERENDUM?

Answer 2

1. GREATER LEGITIMACY
2. PUBLIC PRESSURE
3. MANIFESTO PROMISE
4. ENTRENCHES CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES( ANYTHING SET UP BY A REFERENDUM CAN ONLY BE UNDONE BY A REFERENDUM)

Question 3

WHAT IS A BINDING REFERENDUM?

Answer 3

REFERENDUMS WITH LEGAL FORCE MEANING THE GOVT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO IMPLEMENT THE DECISION OF THE VOTE.

Question 4

WHAT IS A NON - BINDING REFERENDUM?

Answer 4

DOESN’T CARRY LEGAL FORCE SO GOVT IS NOT REQUIRED TO ACT ON THE RESULT. ALL REFERENDUMS INTHE UK ARE NON - BINDING AS PARLIAMENT IN SOVEREIGN.

Question 5

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REFERENDUMS AND ELECTIONS?

Answer 5

DIRECT VS REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
SINGLE VS MULTI ISSUE
BINDING VS NON BINDING
SET BY PARLIAMENT VS SET BY LAW

Question 6

WHO CAN CALL A REFERENDUM IN THE UK?

Answer 6

ONLY PARLIAMENT CAN AUTHORISE A REFERENDUM TYPICALLY FOLLOWING PROPOSAL BY THE PM AND GOVT. AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT IS REQUIRED SO HOC AND HOL MUST BOTH AGREE TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT ENABLES THE REFERENDUM.

Question 7

HOW CAN REFERENDUMS CREATE COMPETING MANDATES?

Answer 7

MAY UNDERMINE SOVEREIGNITY OF PARLIAMENT E.G VOTE TO LEAVE EU IN 2016 BUT ELECTED MEMBERS FROM 2017 ELECTION COULDN’T AGREE ON WHAT BREXIT WOULD LOOK LIKE AS SOME MPS WERE AGAINST BREXIT. CONFLICT UNTIL ANOTHER ELECTION IN 2019 WGERE BORUS STOOD ON A PRO BREXIT PLATFORM.

Question 8

WHY CAN THE RESULTS OF REFERENDUMS BE DIFFIULT TO IMPLEMENT?

Answer 8

REFERENDUM QS ARE LEFT SIMPLE TO ENSURE UNDERSTANDING AND THEREFORE LEGITIMACY BUT THIS SIMPLICITY COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF DETAIL E.G BREXIT REFERENDUM DIDN’T SAY WHAT BREXIT WOULD LOOK LIKE- DID IT MEAN LEAVING THE SINGLE MARKET AND CUSTOMS UNION?

Question 9

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF REFERENDUMS?

Answer 9

1. PUREST FORM OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY
   (ENHANCES DEMOCRATIC LEGITIMACY)
2. SOLVES STALEMATES E.G GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
3. INCREASED VOTER PARTICIPATION
4. ELITIST PARTIES/POLITICIANS BYPASSED

Question 10

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF REFERENDUMS?

Answer 10

1.UNDERMINES SOVEREIGNTY OF PARLIAMENT
2. ISSUES TOO COMPLEX FOR PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND
3. CAN DIVIDE COMMUNITIES
4. REGULAR USE MAY LEAD TO VOTER APATHY

Question 11

WHAT WAS THE RESULT AND TURNOUT OF THE 1998 NORTHERN IRISH BELFAST REFERENDUM OF THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT?

Answer 11

81.8%
YES - SUPPORT OF GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMNT

Question 12

WHAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE FOR UK DEMOCRACY OF THE 1998 NI GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT REFERENDUM?

Answer 12

LED TO CREATION OF NORTHERN IRSH ASSEMBLY. ENHACED DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATION BU REQUIRING CROSS COMMUNITY VOTING. ALSO FOSTERED A PRECEDENT FOR INCLUSIVITY WITHIN THE UK DEMOCRACY.

Question 12

WHAT WAS THE TURNOUT AND RESULT OF THE 2014 SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM?

Answer 12

84.6%
NO - SCOTLAND WERE DENIED INDEPENDENCE.

Question 12

WHAT WAS THE TURNOUT AND RESULT OF THE 2011 REFERENDUM OF CHANGING FPTP TO AV?

Answer 12

42%
NO- FPTP REMAINED

Question 12

WHAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE FOR UK DEMOCRACY OF THE 2011 VOTING SYSTEM REFERENDUM?

Answer 12

AV REFERENDUM WAS A KEY DEMAND FOR THE LIB DEMS AS PART OF THE COALITION GOVT BUT DEFEAT DIMINISHED THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE COALITION. OUTCOME WEAKENED SUPPORT FOR CENTRIST/REFORMIST AGENDAS

Question 12

WHAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE FOR UK DEMOCRACY OF THE SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM?

Answer 12

UK COMMITTED TO GRANTING SCOTLAND GREATER DEVOLVED POWERS THROUGH THE SCOTLAND ACT OF 2016 E,G CONTROL OVER INCOME TAX RATES. ALSO LED TO RISE IN NATIONALISATION BOLSTERING THE SNP WHO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR INDEPENDENCE.

Question 12

WHAT WAS THE TURNOUT AND RESULT OF THE 2016 EU REFERENDUM?

Answer 12

72%
LEAVE EU

Question 13

WHAT WAS THE CONSEQUENCE FOR UK DEMOCRACY OF THE

Question 14

WHICH REFERENDUM HAD THE LOWEST VOTER TURNOUT?