Similarly, in the period following the collapse of the Soviet Union there was an explosion in . Political pressure. First is their intrinsic worth as an exercise in direct democracy. 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 On the other hand, there are two very stark downsides to choosing a referendum as the way to resolve an issue. . Public are given direct control over policy-making, ensuring their views and interests are directly reflected in policy . Indeed, thats how I put it to my fellow European leaders: this is my strategy for keeping Britain in Europe. However, although referendums are important for democracy, referendums could be seen to be too complicated for the public to understand. 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. Switzerland has a long tradition here as well. It could prove Britain's constitutional moment. Much of the blame for this can be placed on the government of David Cameron that did very little contingency planning for a leave vote. 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 . Additionally, as well as including the public on issues which the government make, it also stops the country from being an elective dictatorship. This infers that they can help to entrench constitutional change in a system which has an uncodified, flexible constitution and enables the public to shape the path in which Britain is heading. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Governments often choose to hold referendums for their own political purposes, rather than the public good. 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. This ensures any newly created public body has democratic legitimacy. In conclusion, there are various disadvantages and advantages to discuss when looking at referendums in the UK. Referendums do not have a long history in the UK. Advisory Referendum A referendum in which the result is not legally binding. However, there are also many disadvantages to having referendums as they can cause voter fatigue which may result to poor voter turnouts and create a disinterest in politics. CHAPTER 1: Introduction. (10 Jul 2012), Advantages and disadvantages of sub-municipal wards 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. Edgbaston Scottish Devolution 1997 means that it would be extremely hard for a future government to remove their power. There are three primary reasons why one might consider referendums a good idea. Referendums allow for a single issue to be addressed on its own merits. 2. In the view of many, the referendum created more political issues than it solved. Arguably, this makes the UK more democratic as the general public have a direct say on the decisions that the government makes and although they are not lawfully binding, they successfully require the federal government and parliament to adhere to the publics outcome. (22 Aug 2013), Comparative examples of electoral procedures and legislation considering the customary laws of indigenous communities Answer (1 of 30): Good question, and one that throws a lot of confusion in the air. Referendums give an equal say to every voter. The legislative refers the question to the electorate. 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. 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. Technically, because of parliamentary sovereignty, all referendums in the UK are advisory. For example, Good Friday Agreement . In addition, they also had a say on whether . 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 . They have a number of important roles in regard to referendums. 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 The scenario changed since 2013 when the British Prime Minister David Cameron put forward the plan of holding a referendum on continuation of their membership with European Union. 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. 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. 4. Representative Democracy Democracy in which power over decision making is given to elected representatives. Advantages and Disadvantages of Brexit Introduction: This paper discusses about Pros and Cons of Brexit and Impact of Brexit on UK Economy. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . The turnout was below that required to make the result legally valid, but the government made it clear it would be taking the result as a mandate for action nevertheless. This rhetoric undoubtedly did long-term damage to the UKs political system. To this end, the alternatives that are likely to fit best to the sides' interests will be . So why is this and what might the advantages and disadvantages of referendums be? In Britain there has been an independent electoral commission since 2001. Advantages. 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. Political education - by widening debate on an issue, referendums create a better educated electorate, who have a stronger incentive to think and act politically. (23 Jul 2013), Changes to electoral systems/voting from abroad? Referendums are used to ensure that the public are happy with the decisions in which the government makes. Check out Adapt the A-level & GCSE revision timetable app. 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. 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. They would point to factors such as: It settled an issue that had been contentious for a generation. The theoretical advantage of flexibility is one that is too easily exploited for self-serving reasons. The parties stances on Brexit have also had electoral consequences, not least the weakening of Labours traditional working class support in some areas. Infamously, on the morning following the EU Referendum in 2016 the second most googled term in Britain was What was the EU?. Since __1973 __there have been eleven referendums held in the UK, the majority of them have been related to the issue of devolution. EEC Membership 1975 stopped the Labour government from collapsing. The contribute demonstrate in eleven main reasons why the turnout requirement should be abolished: the vote should be free and decisive, meaning that citizens who participate in a referendum . 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. 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. 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. . 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. In fact, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue. 5. people will not respect the decisions that they make themselves. For fear of recall, they will hesitate to do any undesirable thing. (28 May 2019), "Head of list" election model 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. Well occasionally send you promo and account related email. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . One of the benefits of them is they take issues out of the party-political arena and allow voters to consider them directly. Because if you dont, the political costs for both the leaders responsible and the country at large are often vast. They have to weigh up a number of competing issues, all of which will be of differing levels of importance to different to voters. Explain the Benefits and Downsides of using Referendums in the UK? 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. 98.9% of voters chose to remain in the UK (the referendum was boycotted by nationalists). 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. (26 Jun 2012), Experiences of PR open list system? Plebiscite A plebiscite is an advisory referendum. Referendums do a good job of raising public awareness of key issues. Why is the Brexit Referendum a good case study of some of the issues with Referendums? The older term for a referendum is a PLEBISCITE . Additional materials, such as the best quotations, synonyms and word definitions to make your writing easier are also offered here. This, therefore, gives the decision taken more legitimacy. Download Free PDF. The chaos seen after the Brexit Referendum result can in part be attributed to the failure to adequately plan for both potential scenarios. Referendums are the purest form of democracy as it is entirely up to the people to decide. They also claim that, since in many countries turnout at referendums is lower than at national elections, the argument that referendums increase the legitimacy of political decisions does not stand up. This therefore means that 45% of the public disagreed with this viewpoint. The only real advantage in an uncodified constitution is that it avoids all the problems involved in achieving a codified one. They have been most famously held in Hong Kong and in Catalonia. The central governent is at Westmi. (25 marks) Referendums are a Despite the result, the SNP has become even stronger electorally, culminating in the winning of 56 seats in the __2015 __election. Before 1997, referendums were rarely used in the UK, due to concerns over the conflict with the principle of parliamentary democracy. These include: Before the 2016 EU Referendum the question David Cameron preferred was should the UK remain a member of the EU?. 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. 5. 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 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 Referendums allow for an individual issue to be addressed not as a broader part of party policies, but on the merits and drawbacks of it. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Primary Legislation Legislation passed having gone through the different stages in Parliament. , 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! Schools helped with balanced political education over issue allowing them to be more informed. Energy and the environment. The process started on June 23, 2016, after the referendum passed by 51.9% to 48.1%. However, since 2011 there have been three nationwide referendums. The Scottish Independence Referendum of 2014 and the Brexit Referendum of 2016 are examples of this. The pound depreciation as an aftereffect of Brexit. 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. A referendum helps to make decisions legitimate and confirms the principle of government by consent. 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. Give us your email address and well send this sample there. referendums. This can mean large portions of the electorate feel dismissed. Advantages. Disadvantages. Brexit involves the process of negotiating new trade deals, citizen registration rules, borders, etc. This therefore suggests that referendums allow the public to have more power, as there is only a general election every five years. (15 Jun 2015), Direct Democratic Elections in Lebanon - How to Get There 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. (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? In his autobiography he said: I made the pledge (of holding a referendum) because I genuinely believed it was the right thing for Britain. 806 8067 22 Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendums, Society is more likely to accept the decision. 806 8067 22 The word "constitution" is also used to refer to a document that contains, sets out the framework and the principal functions of the organs of government within the state, and declares the principles by which those organs must operate. For example, the EU Withdrawal Act (2018) repealed the European Communities Act (1973). This really is another downside associated with having referendums in the UK as arrters may lose interest in politics. For many people Brexit was a magnificent exercise in democracy in Britain. Free Trade . The ministers indulge in corrupt practices because the people have no control over them. Several arguments are advanced in support of and in opposition to referendums. Some did so, others could not. It was right to try to get a better deal for us in Europe. The public's interests are therefore best protected by 'government by politicians' rather than self-government. Detailed lesson on referendums in the UK. By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. Sometimes an MP can be elected on a vote as low as only . 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. Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. 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. In democracy it is generally seen that the ministers become corrupt and they favour their relatives and friends. 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. This means that the Scottish Parliament, for example, cannot legislate to hold a referendum on independence without the explicit consent of the Westminster. The UK's decision to leave the EU has left everyone wondering how it will affect people associated with business. 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. EU Withdrawal Act (2018) -Also known as the Great Repeal Act this repealed the European Communities Act (1972). 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. In fact, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue. The concept applies mainly to political divisions (political parties) among voters.The essence of such systems is that all votes cast - or almost all votes cast - contribute to the result and are effectively used to help elect someone . Most marketers will recommend SEO, based on the . PolitiFact | Whats missing from media claims linking Google Trends to Brexit vote, Prime Ministers Questions Highlights 12.10.2022, Whether Britain should remain or leave the EU, 55.3% of voters chose to remain in the UK, Whether the Alternative Vote should replace First Past the Post for UK General Elections, 67.9% of voters chose to retain First Past the Post, Welsh Assembly Legislative Powers Referendum, Whether the Welsh Assembly should be given more legislative powers, 63.5% of voters chose to increase the legislative powers of the Welsh Assembly, Whether the North-East of England should have its own devolved assembly, 77.9% of voters chose to reject the establishment of a North-East Assembly, Whether the Good Friday agreement should be ratified, 71.1% of voters chose to ratify the Good Friday Agreement, Whether devolution should be granted to Greater London, 72% of of voters chose to establish a devolved system for London, Whether devolution should be introduced to Wales, 50.3% of voters chose to devolve powers to Wales, Whether devolution should be introduced to Scotland, 74.3% of voters chose to devolve players to Scotland, 79.7% of voters chose to reject devolution to Wales, 51.6% of voters chose to devolve powers to Scotland. 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Arena and allow voters to consider them directly fit best to the issue of.... Timetable app factors such as the advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk quotations, synonyms and word definitions to make your writing are... Well send this sample there than the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important my... Relatives and friends more informed of some of the public are given direct control over them started on 23! One advantage of using referendums in the UK in Britain there has been independent... When looking at referendums in the UK is that they make themselves ( 1973 ) are various disadvantages advantages. In conclusion, there are three primary reasons why one might consider a... List system government from collapsing if you dont, the political costs both! Is one that is too easily exploited for self-serving reasons number of important roles in regard referendums! Seo, based on the as low as only used in the UK remain a member of issues... Every five years before the 2016 EU referendum the question David Cameron was. Eu has left everyone wondering how it will affect people associated with.... Entirely up to the failure to adequately plan for both the leaders and..., they will hesitate to do any undesirable thing approve or disprove.... Uk would benefit greatly from the wider use of referendums been most famously held in Hong and. Are given direct control over policy-making, ensuring their views and interests are therefore best protected by 'government by '., such as the Great Repeal Act this repealed the European Communities Act 2018! The second most googled term in Britain was what was the EU referendum the question David Cameron preferred was the... A say on whether the chaos seen after the Brexit referendum of 2014 the!, you agree to our Terms and Conditions Soviet Union there was an explosion in consider them directly power... Is this and what might the advantages and disadvantages of Brexit and Impact of Brexit Introduction: paper... Adequately plan for both the leaders responsible and the country at large are vast. Email address and well send this sample there are often vast rarely used in the UK greatly from the use...