One of the benefits of them is they take issues out of the party-political arena and allow voters to consider them directly. This term refers to the idea that once a government gets into power, the public lose their say and ability to express their opinions, enabling the government to make decisions on our behalf instead of consulting with us. A good example of this may be the EU Referendum in 2016. 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. It was right to try to get a better deal for us in Europe. They are also good for dealing with areas wher. Moreover in most of these cases it . It creates considerable constitutional uncertainty, but also an opportunity. What significant national and regional referendums have taken place in the UK? A PowerPoint illustrating how referendums are used in the UK, and what their advantages are. It is entirely at the discretion of the government as to whether or not to hold a referendum. The idea that Britain would give up their push toward more equality for women seems low, even if a no-deal Brexit ends up happening. Before 1997, referendums were rarely used in the UK, due to concerns over the conflict with the principle of parliamentary democracy. The UK's decision to leave the EU has left everyone wondering how it will affect people associated with business. Such episodes served to highlight both the seductive attraction and grave perils of referendums for those who decide to hold them. Referendums give an equal say to every voter. One advantage of Describe the Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendums Read More At elections, voters elected representatives to take difficult decisions on their behalf. Detailed lesson on referendums in the UK. Referendums and consultations are a form of political education for the general population. These are referendums without a clear legal mandate and are often therefore very controversial. A post-legislative referendum This is a referendum held after a law is passed to confirm whether people are satisfied with it. 2. Thousands ofjobsare at stake in the North-East. , How would you react if Brexit was CANCELLED! Being able to campaign in an affirmative way has clear psephological benefits. Referendums are a direct vote by citizens on a political issue. Free Trade . . 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. Reduced government power - provides a check on government power, as the government has less control over the outcome of a referendum than it does over Parliament. Similarly, in the period following the collapse of the Soviet Union there was an explosion in . Disadvantages of referendums. Sometimes an MP can be elected on a vote as low as only . 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. R. eferendums trivialise highly complex issues by oversimplifying them into a ' yes ' / ' no ' vote. I believe this strategy was the most likely way to keep Britain in the EU. Advantages and disadvantages of the referendum instrument. by Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Additional materials, such as the best quotations, synonyms and word definitions to make your writing easier are also offered here. (15 Jun 2015), Direct Democratic Elections in Lebanon - How to Get There On June 23, 2016, a referendum (public vote) was held in the UK for its withdrawal from the European Union. The creation of devolved governments was a huge constitutional change that took powers away from the UK Parliament. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. In the view of many, the referendum created more political issues than it solved. 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. There is a consistent danger that referendums, because of their binary nature, become dominated by wider political issues and not just the issue on the ballot paper. Those who see virtue in the idea of a more direct link between the popular will and the levers of power therefore admire them as an instrument of empowerment for the too-often neglected people. 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. There is also an argument that governments . This is a disadvantage as this caused upset among many people in Scotland and the decision did not seem fair or an accurate representation of what the people wanted. After 1975 there was a gap of 36 years before next nationwide referendum in 2011. The question in a referendum is therefore really important. 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 . 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'. Whilst this bestows democratic legitimacy, voters are often not well-equipped to make these decisions. 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 Answer (1 of 30): Good question, and one that throws a lot of confusion in the air. GCSE Renewable Energy Sources (1) 4.3 Power from the sun and earth. Under First Past the Post the government often has a very large majority. For example, Good Friday Agreement . Referendums allow for a single issue to be addressed on its own merits. Today's most discussed topic all over the world is the fact that UK will possibly leave the EU. The Tyranny of the Majority refers to a situation in which the winning side can claim all of the authority. The referendum was a rare example of direct, or participatory, democracy in the UK. Politicians spend time becoming expert about political issues. Referendums give power to uneducated voters. I really enjoy the effort put in. (21 Mar 2011), Ballot paper design for multiple elections In this referendum 16-year-olds could vote. There is one further type of referendum that also needs recognition and that is unofficial referendums. In Britain there has been an independent electoral commission since 2001. The strategy failed. The second downside is that referendum campaigns themselves can be savagely divisive, especially when the prospect of a narrow victory tempts campaigners to use every argument at their disposal. 98.9% of voters chose to remain in the UK (the referendum was boycotted by nationalists). (08 Aug 2008), Representation of women in Ukraine 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. Referenda can unite a divided party. 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. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . A good example of this is the Scottish Independence Referendum of 2014. Direct democracy mechanisms have been adopted, in part, to counteract these tendencies. The issue realistically has to be broken into a binary question. Disadv: Far too . On one hand, you have SEO's more organic approach, where you gradually cultivate an audience, strengthen trust, and build your brand awareness. What might be some of the weaknesses of referendums? Among the technology community, Brexit will make London lose its position as the most preferred Fintech hub in the world; the view of many venture capitalists and startups. 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 . 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?. 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 . This suggests that referendums are not always a true representation of what the public wants an outcome to be. First, many Fintech firms rely on rolling out services and products across Europe. 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If concessions need to be made to those who committed crimes during a conflict, or if a course will impose severe economic costs, or if a divisive point principle is at issue, endorsement by direct popular vote will likely aid political stability, and also bind not just the present government, but those that follow it. The first UK-wide referendum was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdoms continued membership of the European Community (European Union). The pound depreciation as an aftereffect of Brexit. Now we have Britain's rejection of the EU. This therefore means that 45% of the public disagreed with this viewpoint. Referendums are used frequently in the UK. Technically, because of parliamentary sovereignty, all referendums in the UK are advisory. North-East Assembly 2004 rejected the idea of regional assemblies in the UK, with the North-East as the trial assembly. 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. One argument for independent schools is that they are like Beacon schools, showcasing the very best of education. This ensures any newly created public body has democratic legitimacy. Tyranny of the Majority A situation in which power over a decision is given solely to the group in the majority. By necessity, referendums simplify incredibly complex issues. Renewable Energy. 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. , Paper Predictions Edexcel Unit 1/2 Exams 2017 (Government and Politics) , Edexcel 6GP01 Government and Politics Unit 1 Exam 01/06/2015 , Why doesn't the UK use Proportional Representation and should we ? The advantages and the disadvantages of referendums 'In the wake of the second world war, during the process of decolonisation, several countries broke free from their erstwhile colonial overlords following successful referendums. Well occasionally send you promo and account related email. (25 Marks) A referendum (sometimes referred to as a plebiscite). However, there was little discussion on what leaving would mean and how Britain might leave the EU. . Weakens parliament - referendums undermine parliamentary sovereignty, and are decisions that are not made on the basis of deliberation and debate. We are working with our partners to tackle inequalities in all aspects of society, striving to make change for a fairer world and one in which people can enjoy a fulfilling, rewarding life. The European Union has spent much of their time bringing the country along, often reluctantly . 4. It is clear that when voting the UK population was not well-educated on Brexit. On the other hand, there are two very stark downsides to choosing a referendum as the way to resolve an issue. 806 8067 22 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. The legislative refers the question to the electorate. In his autobiography he said: I made the pledge (of holding a referendum) because I genuinely believed it was the right thing for Britain. Once people have had a referendum on one issue, they begin to expect it for more issues even if that issue is not well suited to be settled by a referendum. Irresponsible government - governments are elected to govern, so should make policy decisions and be accountable for said decisions, instead of handing over responsibilities to the public. 10 reasons against Scottish independence. Have constitutional reforms since 1997 reduced government power? 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. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . Furthermore, if referendums are placed too often, 'voter fatigue' may occur. Here are the sticking points that were most important to the remain and leave camps during the Brexit process. Is a vote in which the electorate can express a view on a particular issue of public policy. This protects representatives in the future from some of the political comeback if the decision appears to be misguided. They have to weigh up a number of competing issues, all of which will be of differing levels of importance to different to voters. This really is another downside associated with having referendums in the UK as arrters may lose interest in politics. By clicking Check Writers Offers, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. They can be seen as advantages for the democracy but also as disadvantages. Sometimes during referendums arguments can become distorted and emotionalised. 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. As a result of the legitimacy that a direct vote bestows, they can have an enormous impact in settling controversial issues. (25 marks) Referendums are a This makes it different to an election, where the electorate vote for a representative, and where the result might change the government. Direct democracy: advantages and disadvantages protect elite and incumbent interests at the expense of broader public interests. Then, in October, Colombians shocked the world as the narrowest of majorities, 50.2% on a 38% turnout, voted to reject a peace deal negotiated between the government and the leftist guerrillas of the FARC to end its 52-year civil conflict. Those votes cast in marginal seats have much weight than those in safe seats where a vote is very unlikely to make a difference. 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. (03 Mar 2014), Electoral reforms made by specific assemblies 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. First, June saw an unexpected British vote to leave the European Union (EU). It provides a level of political support for difficult decisions. Lesson Objectives To understand what a referendum is To examine case studies of referendums To analyse the advantages and disadvantages of referendums 3. In the UK holding a referendum has to be legislated for by the Westminster Parliament. General Elections can be confusing for voters. Ok, let me say Im extremely satisfy with the result while it was a last minute thing. PLEASE NOTE: We are currently in the process of updating this chapter and we appreciate your patience whilst this is being completed. Independent schools provide a very positive learning environment for their pupils, with some of the best teacher-pupil ratios in the country, excellent learner support facilities and other resources . . This was more than a protest against the career opportunities that never knock and the affordable homes that never get built. In a referendum the voice of every voter counts equally. . (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). 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. 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. ( the referendum created more political issues than it solved passed to confirm whether are! Appreciate your patience whilst this is the fact that UK will possibly leave the EU such the. Population was not well-educated on Brexit passed to confirm whether people are satisfied it... Perils of referendums ), Ballot paper design for multiple elections in this referendum 16-year-olds vote! 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