First, June saw an unexpected British vote to leave the European Union (EU). Advantages of referendums. Another argument for direct democracy being used more widely in the UK is that it prevents the government and MPs making extremely unpopular decisions . Political education - by widening debate on an issue, referendums create a better educated electorate, who have a stronger incentive to think and act politically. In total 406 constituencies voted Leave in the Brexit Referendum but only around 160 MPs had voted to leave. Do the advantages of referendums outweigh the disadvantages? 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. Society is more likely to accept the decision - if the people have demonstrated their expressed consent they are more likely to agree with the resulting policies and allowing stable government of the people. (23 Jul 2013), Changes to electoral systems/voting from abroad? Referendums in a direct democracy give the general public direct and unmediated control over government decision-making. Also, the government determine when to hold a referendum and could be done to suit their own needs. In the UK, there is a system of representative democracy called "liberal democracy" - in which the people vote for a government through regular elections with secret ballots and a choice of candidates. (10 Apr 2012), Paramount chieftaincy as a system of local government Scotland's economy will be worse off. Setting rules for campaigning in the referendum including relating to spending. 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'. It is clear that when voting the UK population was not well-educated on Brexit. I believe this strategy was the most likely way to keep Britain in the EU. . Describe the Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendums. Referendums are used frequently in the UK. They are mainly designed to put pressure on a government who may themselves be refusing to offer a referendum. Political pressure. Although it was thought that this would stem the rising tide of nationalism, in fact, it strengthened the support and influence of the Scottish National Party, whose __2011 __election win paved the way for the __2014 __independence referendum. 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Referendums in the United Kingdom. The referendum increased participation, with a turnout of 72%. The legislative refers the question to the electorate. 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'. However, realistically most are politically binding. When a majority of the people back a political decision, it helps to create a lock in the choice, making it easier to proceed. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . The central governent is at Westmi. 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The increasing use of referendums in the UK has created a convention that they should be used for major constitutional change or a change to the way in which the UK is governed. Good examples of this are the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014 and the EU Referendum in 2016. (15 Dec 2016), Examples of 'vote per household' and multi-stage elections at the municipal level Today's most discussed topic all over the world is the fact that UK will possibly leave the EU. Governments often choose to hold referendums for their own political purposes, rather than the public good. Possible Constraints on a Prime Ministers Power. The referendum device is one of the institutions of direct democracy that claim to measure and express the will of the people better than the institutions of representative democracy. It could prove Britain's constitutional moment. Some of these include: To gain legitimacy for an important political or constitutional decision When controversial political or constitutional decisions need to be made it is useful for representatives to get the direct consent of the electorate. 5. (16 Nov 2018), Limits to universal suffrage A good example of this may be the EU Referendum in 2016. Advantages. Is the Prime Minister Effectively a President? I really enjoy the effort put in. They have been most famously held in Hong Kong and in Catalonia. 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First is their intrinsic worth as an exercise in direct democracy. The UK formally left the EU on 31 December 2020. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Devolution in Scotland and Wales was presented in 1998 as the bulk of the general public voted yes in regards to wanting more power. They are currently taking the UK Government to the Supreme Court over the refusal of Westminster to countenance a second independence referendum. Depending on the precise rules adopted, referendums and initiatives A Second Referendum. Several arguments are advanced in support of and in opposition to referendums. 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. 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. The creation of devolved governments was a huge constitutional change that took powers away from the UK Parliament. This took place on both sides of the debate. 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. The question is usually designed to receive a 'yes' or 'no' answer. 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. resolve issues which government and individual parties are unlikely to be able to resolve easily. One of the major advantages of a written constitution is the fact that it can be easily consulted. This happened in the Labour Government under Harold Wilson. From atoms to astronomy, computers to cars and robots to robust materials, our goal is to transform our understanding of the world to make life easier, healthier and more sustainable. 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. Vernon Bogdanor argues that just as joining the EU fundamentally altered the UK constitution, so Brexit could, by exposing the very nakedness of Britain's uncodified . The Scottish referendum on independence had a very high turnout and high levels of popular engagement in the debates. Disadv: Far too . These topic pages provide a quick overview and easy access to all content that can be found on ACE for any give topic of interest - weather encyclopaedia files, electoral materials, comparative data, consolidated replies, case studies, or other. (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). Seats where one party regularly scores more than 50 per cent of the vote (210 seats . Primary Legislation Legislation passed having gone through the different stages in Parliament. For example, the EU Withdrawal Act (2018) repealed the European Communities Act (1973). 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. It is entirely at the discretion of the government as to whether or not to hold a referendum. 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. (21 Mar 2011), Ballot paper design for multiple elections This makes the wording of the question essential. The overuse of referendums can undermine the fabric of representative democracy. Whilst 52% of voters opted to leave the EU in the referendum, around 60% of MPs wanted to remain. 4. Referendums give power to uneducated voters. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. . 98.9% of voters chose to remain in the UK (the referendum was boycotted by nationalists). 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