Focus. 5. This happened in the Labour Government under Harold Wilson. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like How are opinion polls bad for elections and referendums due to their inaccuracy?, Why do opinion polls bring more disadvantages due to their inaccuracy?, Give 2 examples of when opinion polls were spectacularly wrong and more. 1. There was a political imperative for this as if the Government had planned for a leave vote it would have been portrayed that they did not think they could win. (16 Aug 2012), Replacement of polling committee chairpersons? Referendums are the purest form of democracy as it is entirely up to the people to decide. Advantages. an academic expert within 3 minutes. A successful referendum is incumbent on the ability to deliver on either of its potential outcomes and the EU Referendum in 2016 did not fulfil this criterion. resolve issues which government and individual parties are unlikely to be able to resolve easily. prevent government from making unpopular decisions. , Should we have an EU referendum in 2015 , Brexiters don't like democracy or the law , We've built the EU for generations and I am not leaving! Seats where one party regularly scores more than 50 per cent of the vote (210 seats . David Cameron undoubtedly promised (at least in part) to hold a referendum to ease the pressure on his party from the right and thereby win back UKIP members into the Conservative fold. 16 Year olds were also given the vote. Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/describe-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-referendums-essay. Unlike General Elections, referendums allow political parties and voters to focus entirely on a single issue. This led MPs into conflict with their own constituencies and having to deliver on a mandate they had been given that they didnt agree with. However, when it became obvious that we simply wouldnt join a government at all without a commitment to a referendum on voting reform, their appetite for power outweighed (rightly, as it turned out) their fear of losing power . Following the results of the Brexit referendum, the pound dropped 16.5% against the US dollar until the end of 2016, the lowest level of the pound in 31 years, due to high uncertainty in the world economy caused by Britain's decision to leave the EU. Another argument advanced in favour of referendums is that they can be used to resolve political problems, particularly for incumbent governments; where a governing party is divided over an issue, for example, holding a referendum can help reach a solution on the issue without splitting the party (one example of this is the 1975 UK referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EC, an issue over which the ruling Labour government was deeply divided). We are improving the health of people across the world through new discoveries, treatments and patient pathways and working in partnership to build a transformative health ecosystem in our region. However, referendums give control over often extremely complex moral and political issues to voters. The first is that a referendum campaign opens the space for actors on either side to portray the choice between the status quo and the proposed change as a false one, and to seduce voters with false promises based on fantasies of what ideal outcome might be delivered as an alternative if voters reject the course elites like party leaders have recommended. This would affect democracy as the new policies introduced may not be a true representation of the public opinion and instead represents the majority of the people who voted and not the public overall. In addition the UK federal government secured the permission of the individuals of Northern Ireland for a new devolved assembly in the province in 1998. Brexit was . In the UK holding a referendum has to be legislated for by the Westminster Parliament. In fact, the Government had already tried to use a Referendum in 1973 to settle the Irish issue but it was boycotted by Republicans as they did not feel the settlement it addressed their issues. Direct democracy - referendums give the public unmediated and direct control over a policy, making sure that the public's view is clearly articulated, not distorted by those who 'represent' them. Public are given direct control over policy-making, ensuring their views and interests are directly reflected in policy . For example, the Westminster Government under Boris Johnson have pledged to prevent a Second Scottish Independence Referendum despite the widespread support for SNP. However, experts in Switzerland (where a number of direct democracy votes take place each year) believe that, although turnout at referendums is around 45%, more than 45% of electors participate in direct democracy, since different voters participate in the different votes that interest them. . Referendums can be a check on "elective dictatorships" during a government's 5 years span. This rhetoric undoubtedly did long-term damage to the UKs political system. Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. This makes the wording of the question essential. However, since the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 the Conservative Party had been deeply divided by the issue of the European Union. On the Leave side, however, the EU became a handy scapegoat for a wide range of socio-economic issues with a number of causes. The Term Brexit was coined for the process of the UK leaving the European Union followed by the different advantages and disadvantages of it to the country. 5. (21 Mar 2011), Ballot paper design for multiple elections Many prominent figures in British Politics had openly spoken out about the potential use of referendums in the UK: I could not consent to the introduction into our national life of a device so alien to all our traditions as the referendum which has only too often been the instrument of Nazism and fascism Clement Attlee, The late Lord Attlee was right when he said that the referendum was a device of dictators and demagogues Margaret Thatcher. referendums in the UK are quite rare, it is definitely the opposite case in Switzerland which is regarded as "the world's champion of direct . Scottish Devolution 1997 means that it would be extremely hard for a future government to remove their power. Further to this point, referendums are sometimes seen as a means available to elected representatives to avoid having to take an unpopular position on a controversial issue. Those who see virtue in the idea of a more direct . Plebiscite A plebiscite is an advisory referendum. Switzerland has a long tradition here as well. The immediate aftermath of the referendum was a political shakeup. Students will be required to analyse and evaluate the characteristics of different systems used in parliamentary elections and in elections to one of the devolved bodies in the UK including: debates and issues around the performance of those systems; the advantages and disadvantages of those systems They can be seen as advantages for the democracy but also as disadvantages. Referendums are seen as positive as it is the most direct way for the public to participate in politics and know that their opinion and vote matter to the government. Dont know where to start? This is the idea that minority interests are swamped by the power of the democratic majority. 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Citizens are protected from an over-powerful government. Edgbaston In his autobiography he said: I made the pledge (of holding a referendum) because I genuinely believed it was the right thing for Britain. (25 marks) Referendums are a A good example of this is the Good Friday Referendum in 1998 which confirmed the history agreement made in Belfast and set out how devolution would work in Northern Ireland. Referendums have become more widely used since 1997 and have helped to decide controversial policies. The scenario changed since 2013 when the British Prime Minister David Cameron put forward the plan of holding a referendum on continuation of their membership with European Union. This infers that they can help to entrench constitutional change in a system which has an uncodified, flexible constitution and enables the public to shape the path in which Britain is heading. Dr Adam Quinn, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Referendum campaigns themselves can be savagely divisive, especially when the prospect of a narrow victory tempts campaigners to use every argument at their disposal. First Past the Post does not give equal voting power across the UK. There is also an argument that governments . 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This can perhaps be seen by the four years of political turmoil after the referendum surrounding how Britain should actually withdraw from the EU. The referendum was a rare example of direct, or participatory, democracy in the UK. An example of a one being used for this function is the 1998 referendum which was utilized to identify whether Blair and the Labour Party should devolve power to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they allow the general public that are over 18 to approve or disprove essential constitutional changes. Download Free PDF. There are fundamentally three different types of referendum: An advisory referendum This is a referendum which allows citizens to express their opinion, but it is not binding on the government hence being called advisory. (10 Apr 2012), Paramount chieftaincy as a system of local government Reserved Power Powers that are kept by the Westminster Government and not devolved, for example Defence. Additionally, referendums can be used to educate the public and raise citizens awareness of political issues. 98.9% of voters chose to remain in the UK (the referendum was boycotted by nationalists). However, after the intervention off the Electoral Commission the question was as below. To refer to . "No" voters in 2014 who feared that Scotland might find itself outside the EU - even temporarily - might view the economic risks and opportunities . The relationship between the executive and Parliament, The Powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to Dictate Events and Determine Policy, The Influence of the Supreme Court on the Executive, The Comparative Powers of the Commons and Lords. A referendum is a vote given to the public which is determined by the government, and is used to help answer an important political or constitutional question to which the public must vote a simple 'yes' or 'no'. 2. This is unsurprising, as they tend to be on significant issues. EU Withdrawal Act (2018) -Also known as the Great Repeal Act this repealed the European Communities Act (1972). (23 Jul 2013), Changes to electoral systems/voting from abroad? Equality Feminism and Difference Feminism, Differing Views and Tensions Within Feminism, Differing Views and Tensions Within Liberalism, Measurements of Success Through Pressure Groups, Differing Views and Tensions Within Socialism, Differing Views and Tensions Within Conservatism, Public are given direct control over policy-making, ensuring their views and interests are directly reflected in policy, Helps to educate the public about important political questions, as they will be better-informed about key issues through referendum campaigns, Makes the government listen to the public more, as it is another way of voters communicating their thoughts other than just through elections, Provides a check on government power- governments dont control the outcome, Ensures that major changes (e.g. The legislative refers the question to the electorate. Investigating any wrongdoing relating to the referendum. (It should be noted that this fact should be treated some caution, and this is a worthwhile read on the issue PolitiFact | Whats missing from media claims linking Google Trends to Brexit vote). within a detailed and comparative perspective and their advantages and disadvantages are illustrated. (10 Jul 2012), Advantages and disadvantages of sub-municipal wards In fact, it is highly unlikely they would have signed the agreement without it. EEC Membership 1975 stopped the Labour government from collapsing. -provides a clear answer to a specific question. We explore what it means to be human in historical and cultural contexts, within ethical and legal norms and through languages and communication. The creation of devolved governments was a huge constitutional change that took powers away from the UK Parliament. Advantages of referendums. We address the challenges facing society and the economy, from shedding light on the refugee crisis, to character education in schools, through to developing leaders in the NHS. They have a number of important roles in regard to referendums. The main purpose of the article is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Italian referendum tools and particularly the research hypothesis is to demonstrate why the turnout requirement should be abolished waiting for the work in progress people's initiative referendum draft without the participation quorum. The Australian government is presently considering a plebiscite on the issue of marriage equality even though a clear majority in favour exists in parliament; many are strongly opposed on the grounds that such a campaign would be socially divisive, and might even provide a platform that legitimises hate speech. A good example of this may be the EU Referendum in 2016. First, June saw an unexpected British vote to leave the European Union (EU). Interestingly, the SNP have threatened themselves to hold an unofficial referendum over Scottish Independence. Referendums allow the people to participate in politics. However, if permission is refused, Sturgeon has said the SNP will put forward a one-line manifesto in the next general election simply saying the SNP are standing for independence. The referendum, as an instrument of political decision-making, has been the source of much consternation in 2016. Under what process are referendums carried out? Ill-informed decisions - the general public are less informed than elected politicians, and have no political . A London School of Economics and Political Science report examining the financial impact of Brexit, trade and Scottish independence found that "the costs of independence to the Scottish economy . Advantages and disadvantages of the referendum instrument. This was more than a protest against the career opportunities that never knock and the affordable homes that never get built. Because referendums are often held on complex issues, it is easy for populism to take hold. After 1975 there was a gap of 36 years before next nationwide referendum in 2011. If there is a difficult decision to make, then a referendum can solidify support for it. In the view of many, the referendum created more political issues than it solved. I failedbut it all flowed from an attempt to do the right thing. It is clear that when voting the UK population was not well-educated on Brexit. When a majority of the people back a political decision, it helps to create a lock in the choice, making it easier to proceed. List of the Pros of Referendums. In Britain, referendums had been associated with Nazi Germany, where Hitler had use plebiscites to confirm support for his policies such as making himself Fuhrer (1934) and Anschluss (1938). This really is another downside associated with having referendums in the UK as arrters may lose interest in politics. The parties stances on Brexit have also had electoral consequences, not least the weakening of Labours traditional working class support in some areas. Some did so, others could not. . Advantages of referendums in regard to constitutional changes. The chaos seen after the Brexit Referendum result can in part be attributed to the failure to adequately plan for both potential scenarios. For fear of recall, they will hesitate to do any undesirable thing. First is their intrinsic worth as an exercise in direct democracy. I really enjoy the effort put in. To honour a political agreement Sometimes holding a referendum may be agreed by political parties as part of another wider agreement being reached. The advantages of fibre optic certainly outweigh any disadvantages but it would be disingenuous not to mention the potential issues. 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