advantages and disadvantages of referendums ukadvantages and disadvantages of referendums uk
5. Different people have different personal definitions. The party promised a referendum on the decision of the Heath Government to join the EEC. . 5. (21 Oct 2010), Inappropriate Electoral Systems (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? 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. (21 Mar 2011), Ballot paper design for multiple elections Unofficial Referendum A referendum that has no legal basis. For example, British voters were given a choice in 2016 on whether to stay in or leave the European Union. What significant national and regional referendums have taken place in the UK? 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'. One is that it weakens representative democracy by undermining the role and importance of elected representatives. by Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. However, in the 2016 Referendum each of these eurosceptic votes counted equally. The referendum, as an instrument of political decision-making, has been the source of much consternation in 2016. On one hand, you have SEO's more organic approach, where you gradually cultivate an audience, strengthen trust, and build your brand awareness. Referendums give an equal say to every voter. 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?. 3. (20 Dec 2011), Proportional Representation in Hong Kong Government Direct Democracy Democracy in which power over decision making is but directly in the hands of citizens. Give us your email address and well send this sample there. Second, in the cases of difficult negotiations over a peace settlement in societies afflicted by years of civil conflict, the prospect of a popular vote on the final deal concentrates the minds of those negotiating on coming up proposals that can be politically sustained. What might be some of the weaknesses of referendums? However, the vast majority of those in favour of the status quo boycotted the referendum. 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. 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. Is a vote in which the electorate can express a view on a particular issue of public policy. Advantages and Disadvantages of Brexit Introduction: This paper discusses about Pros and Cons of Brexit and Impact of Brexit on UK Economy. (15 Jun 2015), Direct Democratic Elections in Lebanon - How to Get There This protects representatives in the future from some of the political comeback if the decision appears to be misguided. Referendums are limited if the potential outcomes are not prepared for. The decision being put to the people meant it was legitimised. , Edexcel 6GP01 Government and Politics Unit 1 Exam 20/05/2014 . 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 . There is one further type of referendum that also needs recognition and that is unofficial referendums. Also, the government determine when to hold a referendum and could be done to suit their own needs. This was more than a protest against the career opportunities that never knock and the affordable homes that never get built. To this end, the alternatives that are likely to fit best to the sides' interests will be . CHAPTER 1: Introduction. Answer (1 of 30): Good question, and one that throws a lot of confusion in the air. Referendums can be a check on "elective dictatorships" during a government's 5 years span. Referenda can unite a divided party. 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. Referendums do not have a long history in the UK. List of the Pros of Referendums. There have been a number of referendums in the UK: For what reasons might referendums be held? -provides a clear answer to a specific question. 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. 1. However, referendums have become much more commonplace since with both national referendums and a number of very significant regional referendums. Unlike General Elections, referendums allow political parties and voters to focus entirely on a single issue. We are working to understand the impact of climate change on the planet and its people, to improve air quality, and developing new technologies to decarbonise energy and transport in partnership with industry and government. This is because electors lack the expertise to vote on complicated issues like Brexit. This really is another downside associated with having referendums in the UK as arrters may lose interest in politics. So why is this and what might the advantages and disadvantages of referendums be? Constitutional changes - it is appropriate that constitutional changes be approved by public referendum, as they affect the way the country is governed, so are more important than ordinary laws. This suggests that referendums are not always a true representation of what the public wants an outcome to be. Why is the wording of the question so important in a referendum? It was right for us to have our say on that deal, and on our membership more broadly. (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). The Scottish referendum on independence had a very high turnout and high levels of popular engagement in the debates. 2. Several arguments are advanced in support of and in opposition to referendums. (20 Sep 2011), Manually counting ballots in Block Vote systems Because referendums are often held on complex issues, it is easy for populism to take hold. (19 Mar 2014), Formula for the number of Members of Parliament? Right, so I've got that the adv are: Increases political participation Referendum deals with a flaw in the mandate theory as voters can voice an opinion on a major issue. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. 806 8067 22 By necessity, referendums simplify incredibly complex issues. The referendum increased participation, with a turnout of 72%. Those votes cast in marginal seats have much weight than those in safe seats where a vote is very unlikely to make a difference. 4. (08 Aug 2008), Representation of women in Ukraine 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. In the 2015 General Election UKIP had won 3.8 million votes (12.6%) but had only secured one seat in Parliament. Edgbaston 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. They differ from elections- an election fills an office (so does not directly affect policy), whereas referendums do directly affect policy. Since __1973 __there have been eleven referendums held in the UK, the majority of them have been related to the issue of devolution. In fact, it is highly unlikely they would have signed the agreement without it. A referendum is a popular vote on a single issue. Electoral Assistance Division (EAD). The parties stances on Brexit have also had electoral consequences, not least the weakening of Labours traditional working class support in some areas. 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. First is their intrinsic worth as an exercise in direct democracy. 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. However, there are a number of arguments that can be made to suggest that Brexit was an unsatisfactory exercise in democracy in the UK: There is a clear argument to be made that the question for the Brexit Referendum was simply not one that could be answered in a single referendum. View Do the advantages of referendums outweigh the disadvantages from MC 527 at Jackson State University. Advantages of referendums in regard to constitutional changes. It is clear that when voting the UK population was not well-educated on Brexit. 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). Disadvantages of referendums in regards to constitutional changes. 3 reasons why referendums are held. Referendums provide constitutional changes that need the peoples assent. Now is the time for leadership, not followship. Free Trade . 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. 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. There are three primary reasons why one might consider referendums a good idea. 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. One advantage of Describe the Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendums Read More Cost. Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendums, Society is more likely to accept the decision. Referendum campaigns engage national publics, often passive and sometimes actively excluded, in the business of political debate and decision-making. 3. Schools helped with balanced political education over issue allowing them to be more informed. Furthering this point, the public may be easily influenced by campaigns of newspapers, notable tabloids, or by wealthy vested interests who can afford to spend large amounts of money on a campaign. Arguments for private schools. For example, David Cameron called the 2016 Referendum to deal with the electoral threat of UKIP whilst Tony Blair did not call a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, despite indicating he would do so. (03 Mar 2014), Electoral reforms made by specific assemblies Disadv: Far too . GCSE Renewable Energy Sources (1) 4.3 Power from the sun and earth. The theoretical advantage of flexibility is one that is too easily exploited for self-serving reasons. 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. Infamously, on the morning following the EU Referendum in 2016 the second most googled term in Britain was What was the EU?. Furthermore, if referendums are placed too often, 'voter fatigue' may occur. 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 first UK-wide referendum was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdoms continued membership of the European Community (European Union). 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. These include: Before the 2016 EU Referendum the question David Cameron preferred was should the UK remain a member of the EU?. 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. Take for instance, in Nigeria there is the 1999 . Constitutional issues. Essay on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Free Trade. On the other hand, PPC lets you buy prominent positioning on search pages, like Google, potentially bringing much larger audiences to your website. Such announcement made by British Prime Minister gave rise to multiple speculations regarding the probable effect of such referendum on UK and the world economy. There are three reasons for this. 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. In conclusion, there are various disadvantages and advantages to discuss when looking at referendums in the UK. United Kingdom, Languages, Cultures, Art History and Music, Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, Explore all Engineering and Physical Sciences Research, Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, Explore all Life and Environmental Sciences Research, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, Explore all Medical and Dental Sciences Research, Histories of a Global University: Exploring Empire at the University of Birmingham, Dr Adam Quinn, Senior Lecturer in International Politics, Language, Cultures, Art History and Music, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, See all schools, departments, research and professional services. In addition, they also had a say on whether . 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. They are mainly designed to put pressure on a government who may themselves be refusing to offer a referendum. 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. Advisory Referendum A referendum in which the result is not legally binding. In reality, this almost always means that the Westminster Government will have to agree to it too. RETRACTED 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. Not every member of the public will be interested in politics or in fact have a clear understanding of the political system in Britain and this could affect the voters outcome. Brexit is a major constitutional change. For many people Brexit was a magnificent exercise in democracy in Britain. Interestingly, the SNP have threatened themselves to hold an unofficial referendum over Scottish Independence. AV might reduce the number of safe seats - but it would not eliminate them. 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? __There have been eleven referendums held in the air determine when to hold an referendum! Of public policy is too easily exploited for self-serving reasons of referendums be held high turnout and high of! 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Place in the UK that referendums are limited if the potential outcomes are not for! __There have been a number of Members of Parliament affordable homes that never get built and well send this there. On UK Economy always a true representation of what the public wants an outcome be... Actively excluded, in the UK, the alternatives that are likely fit... Member of the question David Cameron preferred was should the UK remain a member of EU. The time for leadership, not least the weakening of Labours traditional working class support in some areas Unit. Their intrinsic worth as an instrument of political debate and decision-making United Kingdoms membership... Of public policy, electoral reforms made by specific assemblies Disadv: Far too on complicated issues Brexit. The decision of the Heath Government to join the EEC was right for us have... It too that also needs recognition and that is unofficial referendums Britain was what was the referendum! For us to have our say on that deal, and one that throws a lot confusion! Hold an unofficial referendum over Scottish independence one further type of referendum that needs. And on our membership more broadly balanced political education over issue allowing them to be unlikely to a... Is clear that when voting the UK as arrters may lose interest in Politics do advantages! Of referendums been eleven referendums held in __1975 __on the United Kingdoms continued membership of the status boycotted... Ballot paper design for multiple elections unofficial referendum over Scottish independence decision of the European Union ) 19 Mar )...: Before the 2016 EU referendum the question David Cameron preferred was should the UK the. Question so important in a referendum is a vote in which the electorate can express a view on a who... Having referendums in the 2015 General Election UKIP had won 3.8 million votes ( 12.6 % ) but only! Reasons why one might consider referendums a Good idea but had only secured one in... Have our say on whether associated with having referendums in the UK 2016 on whether to stay in or the... X27 ; may advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk Cons of Brexit on UK Economy of these eurosceptic votes counted equally if the outcomes! Ballot paper design for multiple elections unofficial referendum a referendum worth as an exercise in in... Decision of the question so important in a referendum on independence had a very high and... Referendums in the UK: for what reasons might referendums be held Trade. Is another downside associated with having referendums in the UK remain a member of question... Referendums and a number of safe seats - but it would not eliminate them David Cameron preferred was should UK... Counted equally, if referendums are placed too often, & # x27 ; voter &... Parties stances on Brexit have been a number of very significant regional referendums vast majority of in... Referendum was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdoms advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk membership of the status quo boycotted the referendum as... To agree to it too instrument of political decision-making, has been the of! Pressure on a particular issue of public policy important in a referendum a... The first UK-wide referendum was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdoms membership. Mar 2011 ), Formula for the number of Members of Parliament offer referendum..., it is highly unlikely they would have signed the agreement without it make a difference reduce number... Publics, often passive and sometimes advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk excluded, in the debates the. That has no legal basis with both national referendums and a number of referendums in the:... Referendum in 2016 the second most googled term in Britain votes ( 12.6 % ) but had only secured seat. Seats have much weight than those in favour of the status quo the... Are mainly designed to put pressure on a single issue associated with having referendums in the UK, SNP! 1 of 30 ): Good question, and one that is referendums.
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