Referendums as forums of demcracy

Question 1

What does a referendum involve?

Answer 1

this involves a public vote on some single issue public policy. It is a means of presenting a question of importance for popular consideration and decision

Question 2

What were referendums historically known as?

Answer 2

plebiscites

Question 3

Which 20th century dictators employed referendums?

Answer 3

Hitler and Mussolini

Question 4

How did 20th century dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini use referendums to their own advantage ?

Answer 4

They were able to conceal their real intentions in order to boost their authority by creating an impression of legitimacy for the policies they intended to carry out

Question 5

Why was Clement Attlee dismissive of referendums (plebiscites)?

Answer 5

due to their association to undemocratic regimes

Question 6

How did Clement Attlee describe referendums?

Answer 6

as ‘devices alien to our traditions’

Question 7

Who did Clement Attlee say referendums were instruments of?

Answer 7

‘demagogues and dictators’

Question 8

What is an example of plebiscites which have featured in democratic regimes with authoritarian overtones?

Answer 8

the Fifth French Republic

Question 9

In Europe, why are referendums often held?

Answer 9

in order to decide questions which are too crucial for the legislature to decide on such as for constitutional reasons

Question 10

Which 3 countries resorted to referendums on the diverse matter of the civil use of nuclear power?

Answer 10

Austria, Sweden and Italy

Question 11

In which countries must a referendum take place before a new treaty can be approved?

Answer 11

Austria, Denmark, Estonia and six other countries

Question 12

In Sweden when do referendums take place?

Answer 12

they can be held if they seem appropriate on any particular issue

Question 13

What is the status of referendums?

Answer 13

they are advisory only

Question 14

What does the fact that the status of referendums are advisory only mean?

Answer 14

this means that the peoples verdict does not have to be translated into law

Question 15

In what year did the Swedish government ignore a public vote when the public voted to continue driving on the left and change this to the right?

Answer 15

1955

Question 16

What issue were the Swedish government slow to follow the voters issues in 1980 which took 20 years?

Answer 16

over the decommission of nuclear power stations

Question 17

In what non-EU state are single-issue votes built into the regular machinery of the government and held on a three monthly basis and are binding?

Answer 17

Switzerland

Question 18

What does parliamentary sovereignty mean for Britain and referendums?

Answer 18

that most usually, only parliament can cast a decisive vote on any issue

Question 19

What reflects parliamentary sovereignty of Britain in regards to referendums?

Answer 19

the case of BREXIT and Article 50 meant that parliament had to decide whether we leave the EU, to which the UKSC ruled that they had to.

Question 20

Why are MPs unlikely to cast a parliamentary vote in defiance of popular opinion from the electorate?

Answer 20

as they would be unlikely to be re elected in the next general election

Question 21

in 1975 which Prime Minister accepted that even a majority of one single vote against the UK remaining in the EC would mean that they have to leave?

Answer 21

Wilson

Question 22

What is parliamentary sovereignty?

Answer 22

the concept that parliament has absolute sovereignty making it supreme over all other government institutions and able to introduce, change or repeal legislation as it wishes.

Question 23

What is devolution?

Answer 23

the statutory granting of powers from the central government at regional or local level

Question 24

What year did the Conservatives hold a referendum on the border issue in Northern Ireland?

Answer 24

1973

Question 25

What year did Labour allow the Scots and Welsh to vote on whether they wanted devolution?

Answer 25

1979

Question 26

What suggested possibilities were never materialised under the Blair administration?

Answer 26

a vote on electoral reform and membership of the single currency, joining the eurozone

Question 27

What is the European Economic Community?

Answer 27

this was the name for the organisation set up by the Treaty of Rome 1957. Later became known as the EC.

Question 28

What was the % of turnout for the Scottish and Welsh devolved assembly in 1997?

Answer 28

60%

50%

Question 29

What did 20 local authorities hold referendums on in the mid 2000’s to decide on?

Answer 29

to decide on whether there should be an elected mayor in their area

Question 30

What does the increase popularity of referendums suggest to governments?

Answer 30

that some people wish to participate in politics between general elections and express their views on decisions that immediately shape their lives