First Past the Post does not give equal voting power across the UK. In the 2015 General Election UKIP had won 3.8 million votes (12.6%) but had only secured one seat in Parliament. Representative Democracy Democracy in which power over decision making is given to elected representatives. Unreliable views - referendums provide a gauge of public opinion at a given time, therefore being an unreliable guide to public interest and an inappropriate means of approving constitutional decisions that will have far-reaching, long-term implications. people will not respect the decisions that they make themselves. Unless Nicola Sturgeon has been conducted the poorest bluff in political history, it seems that Scotland is once again set for a referendum on independence. For example, the Scottish Independent Referendum in 2014 allowed for a robust debate about that issue and was, in the words of then SNP Leader Alex Salmond a once in a generation vote. However, in the 2016 Referendum each of these eurosceptic votes counted equally. If Brexit goes ahead, grievances in communities will worsen, so I say to Labour colleagues: we did not get elected to make our constituents poorer and you know thats what Brexit will do. The decision being put to the people meant it was legitimised. China: Village Committee Elections: First Steps on a Long March? Referendum campaigns engage national publics, often passive and sometimes actively excluded, in the business of political debate and decision-making. Thousands ofjobsare at stake in the North-East. Cost. constitutional change) have legitimacy, which is correct for any change that affects the governing of the country, May lead to ill-informed decisions, as the public may not know the specifics and consequences of a policy decision (unlike the government), Parliament is weakened, as sovereignty is undermined, so decisions are not made on the basis of careful discussion, debate and scrutiny, Governments can absolve themselves of responsibility, meaning they make themselves less accountable, Government could be strengthened- they decide the timing of referendums and can dominate the publicity campaign, meaning they could influence the result unfairly, Referendums provide a snapshot of public opinion at one time, so may not be the most reliable method of choosing a policy direction. Referendums are used frequently in the UK. Included among those shocked was, apparently, the Nobel Peace Prize committee, which had prematurely rewarded president Santos with its 2016 prize. On Thursday 23 June 2016 a referendum was held in order to come to a decision if the UK should remain a member of EU and more than 30 million people have voted. Give us your email address and well send this sample there. Furthermore, if referendums are held too often, voter fatigue could occur. Constitutional Scholar Vernon Bogdanor argues that referendums can effectively create a third chamber in the legislative process. Free Trade . This trend may be exacerbated in the case of referendums on complex issues such as constitutional change or international treaties, with which voters are likely to be unfamiliar. 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. 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. Another argument for direct democracy being used more widely in the UK is that it prevents the government and MPs making extremely unpopular decisions . Why is the Brexit Referendum a good case study of some of the issues with Referendums? Conversely, in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum the SNP at least published a White paper to show there were some plans for a potential exit. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Possible Constraints on a Prime Ministers Power. What are the Mechanisms for Reform and Amendment? Essay on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Trade. They are used to decide on a particular policy proposal, often of constitutional significance. PLEASE NOTE: We are currently in the process of updating this chapter and we appreciate your patience whilst this is being completed. Also, the government determine when to hold a referendum and could be done to suit their own needs. 806 8067 22, Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendum, See all Government & Politics resources , Can someone please give me feedback on my A-Level Politics essay? (04 May 2017), Comparative examples of rules and procedures applying to by-elections Referendums can often be hijacked by other issues. Well occasionally send you promo and account related email. Is the Prime Minister Effectively a President? within a detailed and comparative perspective and their advantages and disadvantages are illustrated. It says the cost of meeting the 60% carbon reduction goal, based on estimates from models of the energy system and economy, amount to between 0.3% and 1.5% of GDP, or in the range of 1.6bn to 12bn per year. The contribute demonstrate in eleven main reasons why the turnout requirement should be abolished: the vote should be free and decisive, meaning that citizens who participate in a referendum . Drawing on recent examples, there are clear disadvantages that need to be considered. This was more than a protest against the career opportunities that never knock and the affordable homes that never get built. This is particularly the case when an amendment to a constitution which itself was approved by referendum is under consideration. Good Friday Agreement 1998 received clear support from most of the community (70% Yes) and this allowed peace to maintain with only minor difficulties. Currently, Scotland is in political union with three other countries, (formerly a country, a principality, and a province). Opponents of referendums also argue that, if the executive has the power to determine when referendums are held, they can be used as a political tool to suit the needs of the governing party rather than the interests of democracy. A referendum is a vote provided to the general public which is determined by the federal government, and is used to help answer a crucial political or constitutional concern to which the public need to vote a simple 'yes' or 'no'. This led to the EEC Referendum in 1975 in which 67.2% of voters chose to remain in the EEC. 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. They are an example of direct democracy and contrast with the representative democracy that usually dominates politics in liberal democracies. 2. Setting rules for campaigning in the referendum including relating to spending. Devolved Power A matter devolved for decision-making by a regional assembly. Referendums provide the peoples opinion. There are also a number of arguments made against the use of referendums. The first UK-wide referendum was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdom's continued membership of the European Community (European Union). Those who see virtue in the idea of a more direct . (16 Nov 2018), Limits to universal suffrage Essay on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Trade. . I failedbut it all flowed from an attempt to do the right thing. Moreover in most of these cases it . The ultimate role of the whole population in deciding whether the deal sticks can be important in prodding elites, otherwise comfortable and secure in their factional power, to do the harder work of engaging with the bigger political picture. 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. To confirm a decision taken by a previous Government Sometimes a party will promise a referendum as a position of opposition to the current government. EU Withdrawal Act (2018) -Also known as the Great Repeal Act this repealed the European Communities Act (1972). The same day, a referendum in Hungary produced a 98% vote to reject the authority of the EU to mandate settlement of refugees in the country. As a result of the legitimacy that a direct vote bestows, they can have an enormous impact in settling controversial issues. General Elections under FPTP do not always result in the true will of the public being expressed, whereas referendums clearly put power in the hands of the electorate. Holding referendums on key constitutional issues is a way to ensure an overpowering government cannot enforce its political will on the population. In November 2009, the Committee began an inquiry into "the role of referendums in the UK's constitutional experience". First, many Fintech firms rely on rolling out services and products across Europe. Has sovereignty moved between different branches of government? Advantages and disadvantages of the referendum instrument Several arguments are advanced in support of and in opposition to referendums. Renewable Energy. The word "constitution" is also used to refer to a document that contains, sets out the framework and the principal functions of the organs of government within the state, and declares the principles by which those organs must operate. Appointing the official campaign groups for each side of the debate. These are referendums without a clear legal mandate and are often therefore very controversial. Direct Democracy Democracy in which power over decision making is but directly in the hands of citizens. On one hand, you have SEO's more organic approach, where you gradually cultivate an audience, strengthen trust, and build your brand awareness. "No" voters in 2014 who feared that Scotland might find itself outside the EU - even temporarily - might view the economic risks and opportunities . 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. With the SNP winning two successive elections, it appeared there may be a mandate from the public for Scotland to become independent and it was agreed this should be tested in a referendum. Moreover, even when looking at the people who did vote and the outcome which was achieved, referendums can never truly represent everyone and meet societys needs as a whole. However, referendums have become much more commonplace since with both national referendums and a number of very significant regional referendums. Here are the sticking points that were most important to the remain and leave camps during the Brexit process. The chaos seen after the Brexit Referendum result can in part be attributed to the failure to adequately plan for both potential scenarios. (23 Jul 2013), Changes to electoral systems/voting from abroad? (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). A good example of this may be the EU Referendum in 2016. The Scots referendum saw high levels of engagement in complex economic and constitutional issues. I really enjoy the effort put in. They have been most famously held in Hong Kong and in Catalonia. Type your requirements and Ill connect you to In the view of many, the referendum created more political issues than it solved. Is a vote in which the electorate can express a view on a particular issue of public policy. It is entirely at the discretion of the government as to whether or not to hold a referendum. Referendums are used to ensure that the public are happy with the decisions in which the government makes. 5. This is unlike an unwritten constitution because a written constitution is contained in one single document. Do the advantages of referendums outweigh the disadvantages? The older term for a referendum is a PLEBISCITE . We explore what it means to be human in historical and cultural contexts, within ethical and legal norms and through languages and communication. On the Leave side, however, the EU became a handy scapegoat for a wide range of socio-economic issues with a number of causes. Third, a referendum may be useful to ensure a broad base of political support for a controversial decision, and lock in a choice that will necessitate riding out unpopular consequences during the implementation. For fear of recall, they will hesitate to do any undesirable thing. Arguments for private schools. For more information on this licence see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0 . First, June saw an unexpected British vote to leave the European Union (EU). Dont know where to start? Referendums can be a check on "elective dictatorships" during a government's 5 years span. 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