Therefore, it is not really the exercise in direct democracy. Referendums allow the people to participate in politics. In the view of many, the referendum created more political issues than it solved. In most elections this does not happen (especially under a proportional system) however in a referendum there is one winning side and one losing side. 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. Reproduced by permission of International IDEA from Electoral System Design: The New International IDEA Handbook 2005 International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance The electronic version of this publication is made available under a Creative Commons Attribute-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) licence. Advantages. The Scottish referendum can be seen to have benefited David Cameron as Gordon Brown promised to give Scotland and its own parliament and powers if they voted no, increasing the pressure on Ed Miliband to come through with those promises. Dont know where to start? Advantages and Disadvantages of Brexit Introduction: This paper discusses about Pros and Cons of Brexit and Impact of Brexit on UK Economy. Explain the Benefits and Downsides of using Referendums in the UK? Public are given direct control over policy-making, ensuring their views and interests are directly reflected in policy . A good example of this is the Scottish Independence Referendum of 2014. Essay on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Trade. There is also an argument that governments . Devolved Power A matter devolved for decision-making by a regional assembly. 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. 52% of citizens voted to leave and 48% voted for the inverse. It is important to note that David Cameron would say that he held the EU Referendum in order to settle a long-standing constitutional issue. Referendums do not have a long history in the UK. The levels of populism were a key criticism of the EU referendum in 2016 where both sides were accused of poor campaigning and misuse of facts and figures. Above all, the key principle of referendums for any government is this: if you call one, you had better be certain you are going to win. 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. 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. The result of this referendum was 80.7% in favour of independence. The pound depreciation as an aftereffect of Brexit. Under what process are referendums carried out? To honour a political agreement Sometimes holding a referendum may be agreed by political parties as part of another wider agreement being reached. Primary Legislation Legislation passed having gone through the different stages in Parliament. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. (23 Jul 2013), Changes to electoral systems/voting from abroad? Additionally, referendums can be used to educate the public and raise citizens' awareness of political issues. 3. There can be widespread scrutiny of that issue and education surrounding it. Some did so, others could not. Furthermore, if referendums are placed too often, 'voter fatigue' may occur. For many people Brexit was a magnificent exercise in democracy in Britain. CHAPTER 1: Introduction. Before 1997, referendums were rarely used in the UK, due to concerns over the conflict with the principle of parliamentary democracy. This happened in the Labour Government under Harold Wilson. (10 Jul 2012), Advantages and disadvantages of sub-municipal wards The question in a referendum is therefore really important. They can be seen as advantages for the democracy but also as disadvantages. Referendums can settle long-standing and controversial issues once and for all. The process started on June 23, 2016, after the referendum passed by 51.9% to 48.1%. 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. A really good example of this is the Alternative Vote Referendum in 2011. Included among those shocked was, apparently, the Nobel Peace Prize committee, which had prematurely rewarded president Santos with its 2016 prize. This makes it different to an election, where the electorate vote for a representative, and where the result might change the government. Whilst they are an example of direct democracy and put power in the hands of voters, there are a number of arguments to suggest that their operation should be limited and that they do more harm than good to British politics. In a referendum the voice of every voter counts equally. Call +44 (20) 7633 5430 or email sales.en@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account. P1.2-Generating Electricity. For example, the Westminster Government under Boris Johnson have pledged to prevent a Second Scottish Independence Referendum despite the widespread support for SNP. Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. In fact, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue. The first UK-wide referendum was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdom's continued membership of the European Community (European Union). (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). This really is another downside associated with having referendums in the UK as arrters may lose interest in politics. Referendums are a direct vote by citizens on a political issue. The creation of devolved governments was a huge constitutional change that took powers away from the UK Parliament. Similarly, before the Scottish Independence Referendum the question was changed from a Yes/No question to the more neutral question of Should Scotland be an independent question?. Component 1: UK Politics - referendums. Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE. The main policy of the SNP is a call for an independent Scotland. It was right, if we got a better deal to remain in the EU. , 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! AV would end safe seats for life. Appointing the official campaign groups for each side of the debate. Because referendums are often held on complex issues, it is easy for populism to take hold. In 2014, the wantaway region of Spain, Catalonia, held an unofficial referendum after being refused formal permission by the Spanish Government for a binding referendum. Disadv: Far too . The Liberal Democrats, who were long-time supporters of electoral reform, insisted on this as part of the Coalition Agreement. R. eferendums trivialise highly complex issues by oversimplifying them into a ' yes ' / ' no ' vote. Scottish Devolution 1997 means that it would be extremely hard for a future government to remove their power. 4. The European Union has spent much of their time bringing the country along, often reluctantly . A good example of this is the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement that ended the Troubles on Northern Ireland and set up the power-sharing agreement between nationalist and republican communities. Revise the impact of the Brexit referendum of 2016 in which the UK voted to leave the European Union, as part of Bitesize Higher Modern Studies A referendum on 5 May 2011 will ask UK voters whether they would like to replace the country's first past the post system with the alternative vote, or AV, method. Because if you dont, the political costs for both the leaders responsible and the country at large are often vast. Check out Adapt the A-level & GCSE revision timetable app. By necessity, referendums simplify incredibly complex issues. 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. 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. Is a vote in which the electorate can express a view on a particular issue of public policy. In total 406 constituencies voted Leave in the Brexit Referendum but only around 160 MPs had voted to leave. Additionally, referendums can be used to educate the public and raise citizens awareness of political issues. Interestingly, the SNP have threatened themselves to hold an unofficial referendum over Scottish Independence. Advantages. (28 Dec 2006), EISA - Promoting Credible Elections & Democratic Governance in Africa, United Nations. Elective Dictatorship A term coined by Lord Hailsham to describe the situation in Britain in which when a government is elected, they can normally govern without much effective scrutiny. In conclusion, there are various disadvantages and advantages to discuss when looking at referendums in the UK. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . an academic expert within 3 minutes. 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. This lesson comprises: - a comparison of representative democracy and referendums - a list of UK referendums since 1973 and an accompanying PPT - how we use referendums in the UK - local and national - a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of referendums The question is usually designed to receive a 'yes' or 'no' answer. This therefore suggests that referendums allow the public to have more power, as there is only a general election every five years. EEC Membership 1975 stopped the Labour government from collapsing. Responsive government - referendums make governments more responsive between elections by forcing them to listen to public opinion, and allow public opinion to be expressed on a particular issue, which cannot be done during elections. The older term for a referendum is a PLEBISCITE . -gives more legitimacy that just a simple act of parliament. 1. It undermined representative democracy. We cannot let something we know will harm our constituents go ahead. Referendums provide constitutional changes that need the peoples assent. . . Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. A Second Referendum. Political division in both the UK and Colombia has been markedly intensified by the 2016 campaigns there. For example, an individual might not understand the significance of their vote to a political question, and that it can have long term effects that they may not take into considerationwhilst voting. The Scots referendum saw high levels of engagement in complex economic and constitutional issues. For example, the EU Withdrawal Act (2018) repealed the European Communities Act (1973). Governments often choose to hold referendums for their own political purposes, rather than the public good. (30 marks), Unit 3C: Representative processes in the USA, Media, opinion polls and election case studies, See all Government & Politics resources , Why are people against an EU referendum? Direct democracy: advantages and disadvantages protect elite and incumbent interests at the expense of broader public interests. Good examples of this are the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014 and the EU Referendum in 2016. I believe this strategy was the most likely way to keep Britain in the EU. . In reality, this almost always means that the Westminster Government will have to agree to it too. This is because although a majority of people voted a certain way, there is usually a very slim margin between this and the other outcome which could be achieved. 5. Several arguments are advanced in support of and in opposition to referendums. Their increasing use (or at least proposal) was also partly due to the participation of the Liberal Democrats in the coalition government, the Lib Dems being the party most committed not only to constitutional reform but also the use of referendums in general. This is unlike an unwritten constitution because a written constitution is contained in one single document. Advantages and disadvantages of referendums ----- One of the arguments put forward against referendums is that they tend to simplify complicated problems and reduce them to yes or no answers. (08 Aug 2008), Representation of women in Ukraine First, June saw an unexpected British vote to leave the European Union (EU). The immediate aftermath of the referendum was a political shakeup. 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. Indeed, thats how I put it to my fellow European leaders: this is my strategy for keeping Britain in Europe. The Ways in Which Parliament Interacts with the Executive. The Act's target was for UK emissions to be cut at least 60% by 2050, though the impact assessment also considered a 70% or 80% goal. Referendum campaigns engage national publics, often passive and sometimes actively excluded, in the business of political debate and decision-making. (26 Jun 2012), Experiences of PR open list system? A referendum provides the opportunity to vote on a single-issue. Brexit is the abbreviation of "Britain Exit," which refers to the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. Direct democracy mechanisms have been adopted, in part, to counteract these tendencies. It was right for us to have our say on that deal, and on our membership more broadly. This makes them especially vulnerable to producing decisions based on false information and/or unrealistic beliefs about what alternatives are possible - often stoked by opportunistic actors within the political system. 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. In his autobiography Nick Clegg says: First Past the Post is enshrined in the DNA of the Conservative Party not least because it has consistently delivered Conservative majority governments, even as their share of the popular vote has steadily declined. 4. Political education - by widening debate on an issue, referendums create a better educated electorate, who have a stronger incentive to think and act politically. Pros and cons of Brexit. 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