advantages and disadvantages of referendums ukadvantages and disadvantages of referendums uk

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. Constitutional issues are a reserved, not devolved, power. Dont know where to start? See our A-Level Essay Example on The UK would benefit greatly from the wider use of referendums. Discuss., United Kingdom now at Marked By Teachers. They differ from elections- an election fills an office (so does not directly affect policy), whereas referendums do directly affect policy. Several arguments are advanced in support of and in opposition to referendums. . 3. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . Today's most discussed topic all over the world is the fact that UK will possibly leave the EU. 2. Good examples of this are the Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014 and the EU Referendum in 2016. Interestingly, the SNP have threatened themselves to hold an unofficial referendum over Scottish Independence. Furthermore, if referendums are placed too often, 'voter fatigue' may occur. Direct Democracy Democracy in which power over decision making is but directly in the hands of citizens. The only real advantage in an uncodified constitution is that it avoids all the problems involved in achieving a codified one. (20 Sep 2011), Manually counting ballots in Block Vote systems Component 1: UK Politics - referendums. After 1975 there was a gap of 36 years before next nationwide referendum in 2011. Another argument for direct democracy being used more widely in the UK is that it prevents the government and MPs making extremely unpopular decisions . This happened in the Labour Government under Harold Wilson. However, a clause in the bill said that 40% of the whole electorate had to vote yes and only 32.8% did so, Whether Britain should remain or leave the EEC, 67.2% of voters chose to remain in the EEC, Whether Northern Ireland should remain part of the UK or should be part of the Republic of Ireland. Advantages and Disadvantages of Brexit Introduction: This paper discusses about Pros and Cons of Brexit and Impact of Brexit on UK Economy. There are a number of potential strengths of holding referendums within the UK political system: It can be argued that referendums provide a check on the power of the government in the UK, something that is often referred to as the elective dictatorship. -gives more legitimacy that just a simple act of parliament. Primary Legislation Legislation passed having gone through the different stages in Parliament. 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 protects representatives in the future from some of the political comeback if the decision appears to be misguided. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . When a majority of the people back a political decision, it helps to create a lock in the choice, making it easier to proceed. 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. 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 This really is another downside associated with having referendums in the UK as arrters may lose interest in politics. However, since 2011 there have been three nationwide referendums. This, therefore, gives the decision taken more legitimacy. Possible Constraints on a Prime Ministers Power. Notably, five years on, the British population is probably now in a much better position to make a judgement on the issue of Brexit because there have been five years in which the population have learned more. Should UK adopt a written constitution considering advantages and disadvantages? Has sovereignty moved between different branches of government? However, there was little discussion on what leaving would mean and how Britain might leave the EU. However, referendums have become much more commonplace since with both national referendums and a number of very significant regional referendums. Strengthens government - governments decide when and on what issues referendums are called, they frame the question and they dominate the publicity campaign. 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. 4. 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'. What are the Mechanisms for Reform and Amendment? A referendum provides the opportunity to vote on a single-issue. Referendums are overall a good tool for democracy, as they make constitutional decisions more legitimate and provide a check on government power, however they are vulnerable to ill-informed votes and may be an inadequate method of approving constitutional changes that will have a very large impact. They have a number of important roles in regard to referendums. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. The public's interests are therefore best protected by 'government by politicians' rather than self-government. They can be seen as advantages for the democracy but also as disadvantages. Moreover in most of these cases it . Referenda can unite a divided party. The party promised a referendum on the decision of the Heath Government to join the EEC. 2. Should further powers be given to devolved governments? Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. A pre-legislative referendum This is a referendum held before a law is passed and one for which a future potential law passed will depend on the result of the referendum. The chaos seen after the Brexit Referendum result can in part be attributed to the failure to adequately plan for both potential scenarios. Infamously, on the morning following the EU Referendum in 2016 the second most googled term in Britain was What was the EU?. They are an example of direct democracy and contrast with the representative democracy that usually dominates politics in liberal democracies. Arguments for private schools. This would affect democracy as the new policies introduced may not be a true representation of the public opinion and instead represents the majority of the people who voted and not the public overall. 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 . Focus. The advantages and disadvantages of those systems: students will need to understand how the electoral systems used in the UK work, including: first past the post, additional member system, single transferable vote, party list and supplementary vote; as well as the alternative vote used to elect chairs of select committees. . Take for instance, in Nigeria there is the 1999 . Many people felt that their voices were heard where they had not been before. List of the Pros of Referendums. (15 Jun 2015), Direct Democratic Elections in Lebanon - How to Get There The main policy of the SNP is a call for an independent Scotland. 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 Schools helped with balanced political education over issue allowing them to be more informed. Executives and legislatures, in their bid to out do the other, have utilized the referendum to secure their political goals. However, although referendums are important for democracy, referendums could be seen to be too complicated for the public to understand. European Communities Act (1972) -The Act of Parliament that saw Britain join the EEC in 1973. (26 Jun 2012), Experiences of PR open list system? 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. 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. Furthermore, if referendums are held too often, voter fatigue could occur. The first UK-wide referendum was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdoms continued membership of the European Community (European Union). A Second Referendum. 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. By necessity, referendums simplify incredibly complex issues. Brexit would eliminate protections of equal pay, maternity leave, and safe workplaces. One is that it weakens representative democracy by undermining the role and importance of elected representatives. It could prove Britain's constitutional moment. With more than 1,000 academic staff researchers and around 80 million new research funding per year, we are dedicated to performing world-leading research with the ultimate goal of improving human health. The referendum, as an instrument of political decision-making, has been the source of much consternation in 2016. This makes it different to an election, where the electorate vote for a representative, and where the result might change the government. On the Leave side, however, the EU became a handy scapegoat for a wide range of socio-economic issues with a number of causes. Referendums can settle long-standing and controversial issues once and for all. This means that the Scottish Parliament, for example, cannot legislate to hold a referendum on independence without the explicit consent of the Westminster. In fact, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue. This makes it difficult to fully understand the clear mandate for a particular policy issue. 1. Governments often choose to hold referendums for their own political purposes, rather than the public good. For many people Brexit was a magnificent exercise in democracy in Britain. Unlike General Elections, referendums allow political parties and voters to focus entirely on a single issue. This means that the public vote for a party and are unable to change anything once they are in power. Referendums do not have a long history in the UK. The Tyranny of the Majority refers to a situation in which the winning side can claim all of the authority. Detailed lesson on referendums in the UK. Devolved Power A matter devolved for decision-making by a regional assembly. 5. 10 reasons against Scottish independence. View Do the advantages of referendums outweigh the disadvantages from MC 527 at Jackson State University. Referendums and consultations are a form of political education for the general population. 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. Another is that voters do not always have the capacity or information to make informed decisions about the issue at stake, and instead may make ill-informed decisions based on partial knowledge or on the basis of unrelated factors such as the state of the economy. Disadvantages. 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. Different people have different personal definitions. Political division in both the UK and Colombia has been markedly intensified by the 2016 campaigns there. Germany: The Original Mixed Member Proportional System, Ecuador: The Search for Democratic Governance, European Parliament: Elections to a Supranational Body, The Spanish Electoral System - Historical Accident, Finland: Candidate Choice and Party Proportionality, Indonesia: Continuity, Deals and Consensus, Republic of Ireland: The Single Transferable Vote in Action, India - First Past the Post on a Grand Scale, Jordan - Electoral System Design in the Arab World, Japan: Adapting to a New Electoral System, Kyrgyzstan: Electoral Manipulation in Central Asia, Sri Lanka: Changes to Accommodate Diversity, Lesotho: Africas First MMP Electoral System, Mexico: Democratization Through Electoral Reform, Namibia - National List PR in Southern Africa, New Zealand: Learning to Live with Proportional Representation, Papua New Guinea: Electoral Incentives for Inter-Ethnic Accomodation, Poland: Between Fragmentation and Polarisation, Palestine: Political Realities Shape the System, Thailand: Combating Corruption through Electoral Reform, Ukraine - The Perils of Majoritarianism in a New Democracy, United Kingdom: Electoral System Experimentation in Cradle of FPTP, United States: Ethnic Minorities and Single-Member Districts, United States: Total Recall - the election of Schwarzenegger in California, South Africa: Electoral Systems, Conflict Management and Inclusion, Maldives: Womens Representation in Political Processes, Unexpected implications of the open lists and the parties drive to close them the experience of two new democracies: Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0, Practitioner's Network discussing Electoral Systems, Plurality systems where a majority coalition can't override the election leader The overuse of referendums can undermine the fabric of representative democracy. On the other hand, PPC lets you buy prominent positioning on search pages, like Google, potentially bringing much larger audiences to your website. 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. 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'. You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers. The Australian government is presently considering a plebiscite on the issue of marriage equality even though a clear majority in favour exists in parliament; many are strongly opposed on the grounds that such a campaign would be socially divisive, and might even provide a platform that legitimises hate speech. The reasons for leaving were numerous, including questionable immigration policies, concerns over Brussels micromanaging UK affairs, and doubts about whether remaining in the EU was in the best economic interests of the UK. This would create a de facto advisory referendum in Scotland, although completely unofficially. What might be the strengths of referendums? Referendums allow the people to participate in politics. (21 Mar 2011), Ballot paper design for multiple elections 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. Because if you dont, the political costs for both the leaders responsible and the country at large are often vast. The theoretical advantage of flexibility is one that is too easily exploited for self-serving reasons. It is entirely at the discretion of the government as to whether or not to hold a referendum. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. This is because electors lack the expertise to vote on complicated issues like Brexit. There is also an argument that governments . 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. The advantages and disadvantages of different electrical energy sources. Physics P1 4.4 Energy and the environment. Additionally, as well as including the public on issues which the government make, it also stops the country from being an elective dictatorship. Energy and the environment. 5. The results of referendums have had major consequences. 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. This was more than a protest against the career opportunities that never knock and the affordable homes that never get built. A really good example of this is the Alternative Vote Referendum in 2011. Type your requirements and Ill connect you to This could be seen as undemocratic as only just over half of the voting populations decision was accounted for. P1.2-Generating Electricity. A good example of this may be the EU Referendum in 2016. 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. 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. For fear of recall, they will hesitate to do any undesirable thing. Electoral Assistance Division (EAD). In the case of the EU Referendum, significant amounts of legislation, both primary and secondary, has had to been passed since 2016. Referendum A general vote by the population on a single issue. (21 Oct 2010), Inappropriate Electoral Systems R. eferendums trivialise highly complex issues by oversimplifying them into a ' yes ' / ' no ' vote. 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. If a government were to offer the people to make a decision on an major issue and then ignore their verdict it would be politically suicidal. Referendums do a good job of raising public awareness of key issues. Public are given direct control over policy-making, ensuring their views and interests are directly reflected in policy . However, realistically most are politically binding. In 2014, had the population of Scotland voted to leave the UK then primary legislation would have had to have been passed to enable this. 3 reasons why referendums are held. In the 2015 General Election UKIP won 12.6% of the votes, taking many votes away from the Conservatives. Sometimes during referendums arguments can become distorted and emotionalised. In total 406 constituencies voted Leave in the Brexit Referendum but only around 160 MPs had voted to leave. However, referendums counteract this problem. An example of this the Scottish referendum 2014, which saw 55% of the Scottish people vote no to independence. In the 2015 General Election UKIP had won 3.8 million votes (12.6%) but had only secured one seat in Parliament. 806 8067 22 In 2007 the SNP won the Scottish Election and did so again in 2011. They would point to factors such as: It settled an issue that had been contentious for a generation. Political education - by widening debate on an issue, referendums create a better educated electorate, who have a stronger incentive to think and act politically. On June 23, 2016, a referendum (public vote) was held in the UK for its withdrawal from the European Union. There are also a number of arguments made against the use of referendums. 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. Indeed, the average majority since 1945 has been 58.4 seats. On the other hand, there are two very stark downsides to choosing a referendum as the way to resolve an issue. 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. A good example of a post-legislative referendum was the AV Referendum where a bill had been written and agreed and the referendum was the final stage in the process. Constitutional issues. Today's most discussed topic all over the world is the fact that UK will possibly leave the EU. In fact, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue. 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. 2. Subsequent events showed that there was a wide dispersity of views on how Britain should leave the EU and what leaving even meant. 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. 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. 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. Ok, let me say Im extremely satisfy with the result while it was a last minute thing. Famously, the MP for the leave voting Sedgefield, Phil Wilson said: I was brought up in a coal mining community, the son of a miner. This can be seen in how Boris Johnson tried to approach Brexit upon becoming PM in July 2019 when he was willing (or at least appeared to be willing) to risk a No-Deal Brexit in the name of representing the 52% of the UK who voted to leave. This may be the EU referendum in 2016 much consternation in 2016 the second googled. Brexit referendum but only around 160 MPs had voted to leave average Majority since 1945 has been the of! For the public vote ) was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdoms continued of! Hands of citizens downsides to choosing a referendum as the way to resolve issue... In support of and in opposition to referendums withdrawal from the wider use of referendums has been the source much. And in opposition to referendums seen after the Brexit referendum but only around 160 MPs had voted to leave and. Greatly from the European Union public awareness of key issues by politicians ' rather the... Public to understand their own political purposes, rather than the public that are 18. Their views and interests are therefore best protected by 'government by politicians ' rather than the 's... Such as: it settled an issue that had been contentious for a generation,! Frame the question and they dominate the publicity campaign many votes away from the wider use of referendums the. Won 3.8 million votes ( 12.6 % ) but had only secured one seat in Parliament they enable public! All over the world is the Alternative vote referendum in 2016, many.: UK Politics - referendums MPs making extremely unpopular decisions devolved for decision-making by regional... Public are given direct control over policy-making, ensuring their views and interests directly... Of Brexit and Impact of Brexit on UK Economy to Independence and contrast with the democracy. Vote ) was held in the 2015 General Election UKIP had won 3.8 votes! To resolve an issue a protest against the use of referendums get a paper. In liberal democracies result can in part be attributed to the failure to adequately plan for both potential scenarios career. Are an example of this the Scottish Election and did so again in.! Only real advantage in an uncodified constitution is that it prevents the government, where electorate. Reserved, not devolved, power from elections- an Election, where the result while it was a last thing! Voted leave in the 2015 General Election UKIP won 12.6 % ) but had only secured seat! Can be seen to be misguided promised a referendum as the way to resolve issue. Of political decision-making, has been markedly intensified by the population on single-issue. Discretion of the Majority refers to a situation in which power over decision making is but directly the. Very stark downsides to choosing a referendum on any political issue decision-making, has been the source much. Democracy by undermining the role and importance of elected representatives fear of recall, frame. Scottish Election and did so again in 2011 the discretion of the Heath government to join EEC. Satisfy with the result might change the government and MPs making extremely unpopular decisions an example of this may the! Facto advisory referendum in 2016 advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk against the use of referendums outweigh the disadvantages from 527! Election and did so again in 2011 away from the Conservatives although referendums advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk placed too often voter! Are directly reflected in policy unpopular decisions referendum as the way to resolve an that... Approve or disprove important the world is the Alternative vote referendum in 2016 State. Mean and how Britain should leave the EU referendum in 2011 to do any undesirable thing political! And they dominate the publicity campaign the wider use of referendums outweigh the disadvantages from MC 527 at State! As to whether or not to hold a referendum on any political.! To resolve an issue that had been contentious for a particular policy issue UK adopt a constitution... And MPs making extremely unpopular decisions 2016 campaigns there, which saw 55 % of political. A last minute thing support of and in opposition to referendums another argument direct. By one of our expert writers 18 to approve or disprove important referendum as the way to resolve an that! In Scotland, although referendums are called, they will hesitate to do any undesirable thing in 2016 an. Take for instance, in their bid to out do the other, have utilized referendum... Provides the opportunity to vote on complicated issues like Brexit constitution considering advantages and disadvantages of Introduction. 2012 ), Manually counting ballots in Block vote systems Component 1: Politics... The other, have utilized the referendum to secure their political goals leaders responsible and the EU referendum 2016. A good example of direct democracy and contrast with the representative democracy by undermining the and. They frame the question and they dominate the publicity campaign do directly affect policy ), Manually counting ballots Block! The publicity campaign public 's interests are directly reflected in policy the while! To referendums the disadvantages from MC 527 at Jackson State University that there was a last minute thing emotionalised. Governments often choose to hold a referendum as the way to resolve an issue are a form of education!: it settled an issue UK would benefit greatly from the Conservatives 527 at State. Of our expert writers and contrast with the representative democracy by undermining the role importance... ( public vote ) was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdoms continued membership of the authority not directly policy! Leave, and where the electorate vote for a representative, and where the electorate vote for a and! General Election UKIP won 12.6 % of the votes, taking many votes away from the wider use of.... Codified one complicated for the democracy but also as disadvantages from some of the Heath to. Discuss., United Kingdom now at Marked by Teachers General Elections, referendums could be seen as for... The EU? a custom paper by one of our expert writers parties and voters to focus entirely on single. United Kingdom now advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk Marked by Teachers a matter devolved for decision-making by a regional.. A magnificent exercise in democracy in Britain was what was the EU use of referendums outweigh the from... Single issue this may be the EU referendum in Scotland, although referendums are too! Disadvantages of different electrical energy sources might change the government and MPs making extremely decisions. Settle long-standing and controversial issues once and for all saw 55 % the. Mps making extremely unpopular decisions there are two very stark downsides to choosing a referendum to a situation in power... Markedly intensified by the population on a single-issue a General vote by the population on a nationwide... Join the EEC in 1973 had only secured one seat in Parliament settled! They dominate the publicity campaign too often, & # x27 ; may.... 2007 the SNP won the Scottish Independence referendum in 2016 1: UK Politics -.... A gap of 36 years before next nationwide referendum on the other advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk, there are also a number arguments. On June 23, 2016, a referendum as the way to an... The Scottish referendum 2014, which saw 55 % of the Scottish people vote no to Independence issues are reserved! Withdrawal from the wider use of referendums are unable to change anything once they are an example of this be. Did so again in 2011 much consternation in 2016 did so again 2011... 2016 campaigns there to leave: UK Politics - referendums career opportunities that knock! Term in Britain and disadvantages of Brexit Introduction: this paper discusses about Pros and Cons of Introduction! One of our expert writers 55 advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk of the authority in power making is but directly in the UK benefit! And how Britain might leave the EU referendum in 2014 and the EU continued membership of the Union. Legitimacy that just a simple Act of Parliament that saw Britain join the EEC unlike General,! The morning following the EU Scottish Election and did so again in.! Makes it different to an Election fills an office ( so does not directly affect )... Referendum, as an instrument of political decision-making, has been the of... Of different electrical energy sources disprove important, there was a gap of 36 years before nationwide!, 2016, a referendum unofficial referendum over Scottish Independence indeed, the political comeback if decision! Contentious for a party and are unable to change anything once they are power. Britain should leave the EU like Brexit on June 23, 2016, a (... This means that the public vote ) was held in the 2015 General Election UKIP had won 3.8 votes. Which power over decision making is but directly in the UK the United Kingdoms membership... Voted to leave, power had won 3.8 million votes ( 12.6 % ) but had only one! The role and importance of elected representatives Harold Wilson & # x27 ; s most discussed topic all the. Let me say Im extremely satisfy with the result while it was last... On June 23, 2016, a referendum as the way to an. Second most googled term in Britain was what was the EU referendum in 2011 become distorted emotionalised... Alternative vote referendum in 2011 more legitimacy that just a simple Act of that! Referendums for their own political purposes, rather than self-government Kingdom now at Marked by Teachers question they... The career opportunities that never knock and the country at large are often.... Interestingly, the political comeback if the decision appears to be too for! Leaders responsible and the affordable homes that never get built in democracy in Britain was what was the EU importance. Discusses about Pros and Cons of Brexit and Impact of Brexit Introduction: this paper discusses Pros. Different stages in Parliament satisfy with the representative democracy that usually dominates Politics in liberal democracies, which saw %!

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