Referendums

Question 1

What is a referendum

Answer 1

In a referendum people are invited, on a national, regional or local basis to vote on the key political issue, usually of a constitutional nature. Referendums pose a simple question which requires a straightforward yes or no answer. In the UK referendum results are not legally binding, but parliament will, effectively, always accept a referendum results

Question 2

1 example of when a referendum is used in the UK

Answer 2

When the government is split on the issue, a referendum was all that issue without destroying government itself

Question 3

Examples: of referendum when the government is split

Answer 3

1975: referendum on whether or not the UK should remain in the year European Community.
Results: yes
2011: referendum on whether to adopt AV as an electoral system.
Result no

Question 4

A second example of when a referendum is used in the UK

Answer 4

When an important constitutional change is being proposed which will affect the way people are governed.

Question 5

Give 2 examples of a referendum about important constitutional change

Answer 5

1998: referendum in London on whether to adopt an elected mayor.
Result: yes
2004: referendum in North East England and whether to introduce an elected regional assembly.
Result: no

Question 6

A third example of when a referendum is used in the UK

Answer 6

When it is necessary to entrench an important constitutional change

Question 7

Give three examples of referendums that have been used to entrench an important constitutional change

Answer 7

1997: referendum on whether to introduce to both government in Scotland.
Result: yes
1997: referendum on whether to give Scottish Parliament the power to vary the level of income tax.
Results: yes
1997: referendum on whether to introduce an assembly in Wales.
Result: yes

Question 8

Give a fourth example of when a referendum is used in the UK

Answer 8

When there is a special need to secure popular consent

Question 9

Give an example when a referendum was used to secure popular consent

Answer 9

1998: referendum in Northern Ireland to approve the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement designed to introduce devolved government and end inter-community conflict.
Results: yes

Question 10

List the disadvantages of referendums

Answer 10

1. Issues may be too complex for the average person to understand.
2. People may vote in an emotional, irrational way.
3. If there are too many referendums, people may suffer from ‘voter fatigue’ and so the turnout may be low.
4. Voters may start to lose respect for representative institutions if they become used to making their own decisions.

Question 11

List more disadvantages of referendums

Answer 11

5. Referendums and direct democracy may encourage the ‘tyranny of the majority’, which results in the oppression of minorities.
6. If there is low turnout in a referendum, the result may lack legitimacy.
7. Very close referendum vote may result in an unsatisfactory conclusion and fail to achieve acceptance of the outcome.
8. Referendums are costly and time-consuming as they focus on one issue alone

Question 12

An example of an issue that may be too complex for a referendum

Answer 12

British membership of the European single currency

Question 13

Give an example of when people may vote in an emotional or a rational way in a referendum

Answer 13

A vote on capital punishment

Question 14

Give an example of a referendum which demonstrated the ‘tyranny of the majority’

Answer 14

The 2009 Swiss referendum banning construction of Islamic minarets,
2008 a vote in California outlawing civil partnerships

Question 15

Give an example of a UK referendum when the low turnout meant the result lacked legitimacy

Answer 15

1998 only 34% turnout in a referendum to decide whether London should have an elected mayor

Question 16

Give an example where a referendum results has been so close that the results failed to achieve acceptance of the outcome

Answer 16

1997, the vote for Welsh devolution was
yes – 50.5%
no – 49.5%