Further to this point, referendums are sometimes seen as a means available to elected representatives to avoid having to take an unpopular position on a controversial issue. Indeed, thats how I put it to my fellow European leaders: this is my strategy for keeping Britain in Europe. It could prove Britain's constitutional moment. Some did so, others could not. 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. Today's most discussed topic all over the world is the fact that UK will possibly leave the EU. 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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. Referendums have to reduce complex issues to simple questions. Advantages and Disadvantages of Brexit Introduction: This paper discusses about Pros and Cons of Brexit and Impact of Brexit on UK Economy. They would point to factors such as: It settled an issue that had been contentious for a generation. Answer (1 of 30): Good question, and one that throws a lot of confusion in the air. Advantages of referendums in regard to constitutional changes. Answer (1 of 4): The advantage of a referendum is that it is giving direct democratic control to the people. The first UK-wide referendum was held in __1975 __on the United Kingdom's continued membership of the European Community (European Union). Brexit would eliminate protections of equal pay, maternity leave, and safe workplaces. Unlike General Elections, referendums allow political parties and voters to focus entirely on a single issue. Additionally, referendums can be used to educate the public and raise citizens awareness of political issues. Referendums provide constitutional changes that need the peoples assent. Similarly, in the period following the collapse of the Soviet Union there was an explosion in . In fact, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue. 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. Brexit was . Has sovereignty moved between different branches of government? (28 May 2019), "Head of list" election model (It should be noted that this fact should be treated some caution, and this is a worthwhile read on the issue PolitiFact | Whats missing from media claims linking Google Trends to Brexit vote). First, June saw an unexpected British vote to leave the European Union (EU). To honour a political agreement Sometimes holding a referendum may be agreed by political parties as part of another wider agreement being reached. (10 Apr 2012), Paramount chieftaincy as a system of local government Scottish Devolution 1997 means that it would be extremely hard for a future government to remove their power. (03 Mar 2014), Electoral reforms made by specific assemblies 5. (23 Jul 2013), Changes to electoral systems/voting from abroad? You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers. Referendums and consultations are a form of political education for the general population. 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. Referendums can settle long-standing and controversial issues once and for all. Despite the result, the SNP has become even stronger electorally, culminating in the winning of 56 seats in the __2015 __election. 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. Referendums have become more widely used since 1997 and have helped to decide controversial policies. The Scottish Independence Referendum of 2014 and the Brexit Referendum of 2016 are examples of this. First described in 1988 1, the number needed to treat (NNT) can be thought of as the number of patients that need to be treated in order for one to benefit.It provides an attractive means of summarising the results of a clinical trial in a single figure, because . 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. 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. Arguments for private schools. There has been a significant reduction in the cost of fibre optic cable installation in recent years, but it still involves a much higher tariff than copper cable. Representative Democracy Democracy in which power over decision making is given to elected representatives. 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. First is their intrinsic worth as an exercise in direct democracy. General Elections can be confusing for voters. 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. Ill-informed decisions - the general public are less informed than elected politicians, and have no political experience. On one hand, you have SEO's more organic approach, where you gradually cultivate an audience, strengthen trust, and build your brand awareness. I failedbut it all flowed from an attempt to do the right thing. 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. They are also good for dealing with areas wher. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . by 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. 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. The EU referendum result led to the resignation of the Prime Minister David Cameron, the election of Theresa May as Conservative leader, and the instillation of, in effect, a new government. 1. But what is AV and how would it . 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'. Setting rules for campaigning in the referendum including relating to spending. Whilst 52% of voters opted to leave the EU in the referendum, around 60% of MPs wanted to remain. There is one further type of referendum that also needs recognition and that is unofficial referendums. 2. This gives the final verdict a greater mandate than that received as the result of a General Election. Such episodes served to highlight both the seductive attraction and grave perils of referendums for those who decide to hold them. Constitutional issues. To install StudyMoose App tap However, referendums have become much more commonplace since with both national referendums and a number of very significant regional referendums. Disadvantages of referendums in regards to constitutional changes. It creates considerable constitutional uncertainty, but also an opportunity. David Cameron undoubtedly promised (at least in part) to hold a referendum to ease the pressure on his party from the right and thereby win back UKIP members into the Conservative fold. In 2014, the wantaway region of Spain, Catalonia, held an unofficial referendum after being refused formal permission by the Spanish Government for a binding referendum. Before 1997, referendums were rarely used in the UK, due to concerns over the conflict with the principle of parliamentary democracy. 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. However, there are also many disadvantages to having referendums . To what extent do the advantages of referendums outweigh the disadvantages? R. eferendums trivialise highly complex issues by oversimplifying them into a ' yes ' / ' no ' vote. As a response to the seeming public mood At times there may be circumstances in which there is a suggestion that the public mood on an issue deserves to be tested. In democracy it is generally seen that the ministers become corrupt and they favour their relatives and friends. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Advantages and disadvantages of the referendum instrument, Electoral Systems, Institutional Framework & Governance, Making Elections Accessible and Meaningful, Facilitating Stable and Efficient Government, Holding Individual Representatives Accountable, Promoting Legislative Opposition and Oversight, Making the Election Process Workable and Sustainable, Taking into Account 'International Standards'. However, since the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 the Conservative Party had been deeply divided by the issue of the European Union. 3. There are a variety of reasons that a referendum might be held. Referendum campaigns engage national publics, often passive and sometimes actively excluded, in the business of political debate and decision-making. Cost. There are three primary reasons why one might consider referendums a good idea. 3. List of the Pros of Referendums. 4. To confirm a transfer of powers Referendums will often be held to confirm a transfer of powers. In fact, it is highly unlikely they would have signed the agreement without it. Detailed lesson on referendums in the UK. At elections, voters elected representatives to take difficult decisions on their behalf. The Liberal Democrats, who were long-time supporters of electoral reform, insisted on this as part of the Coalition Agreement. . people will not respect the decisions that they make themselves. The theoretical advantage of flexibility is one that is too easily exploited for self-serving reasons. Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/describe-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-referendums-essay. Some of these include: To gain legitimacy for an important political or constitutional decision When controversial political or constitutional decisions need to be made it is useful for representatives to get the direct consent of the electorate. The main purpose of the article is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Italian referendum tools and particularly the research hypothesis is to demonstrate why the turnout requirement should be abolished waiting for the work in progress people's initiative referendum draft without the participation quorum. , 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 ? It was right for us to have our say on that deal, and on our membership more broadly. 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. Politicians spend time becoming expert about political issues. Referendums provide the peoples opinion. Do the advantages of referendums outweigh the disadvantages? The issue realistically has to be broken into a binary question. What might be some of the weaknesses of referendums? (20 Dec 2011), Proportional Representation in Hong Kong Government In the case of the EU Referendum, significant amounts of legislation, both primary and secondary, has had to been passed since 2016. The Ways in Which Parliament Interacts with the Executive. The Scottish referendum on independence had a very high turnout and high levels of popular engagement in the debates. Unofficial Referendum A referendum that has no legal basis. 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. Now is the time for a peoples vote on the final deal.. Referendums give an equal say to every voter. Referendums are used to ensure that the public are happy with the decisions in which the government makes. 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'. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. I know what happens when an industry closes the unemployment, the poverty, the loss of hope, the years it takes to get back on your feet, the grievances that still play out today. Devolution in Scotland and Wales was presented in 1998 as the bulk of the general public voted yes in regards to wanting more power. At least 22 francs per hour (18 euros, or $25) for each worker: This is the minimum wage proposal that the Swiss voted down on Sunday in a referendum.. There are three reasons for this. The advantages and disadvantages of different electrical energy sources. There is also an argument that governments . There have been a number of referendums in the UK: For what reasons might referendums be held? P1.2-Generating Electricity. Referenda can unite a divided party. (16 Aug 2012), Replacement of polling committee chairpersons? One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . 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 It is important to note that David Cameron would say that he held the EU Referendum in order to settle a long-standing constitutional issue. Explain the Benefits and Downsides of using Referendums in the UK? Referendums are the purest form of democracy as it is entirely up to the people to decide. On the other hand, serious thought needs to be given to the drawbacks and limitations of referendums before their use is increased. 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. This took place on both sides of the debate. A PowerPoint illustrating how referendums are used in the UK, and what their advantages are. European Communities Act (1972) -The Act of Parliament that saw Britain join the EEC in 1973. This suggests that referendums are not usually a true rendering of the particular public wants an result to be. In 2007 the SNP won the Scottish Election and did so again in 2011. This really is another downside associated with having referendums in the UK as arrters may lose interest in politics. They can be seen as advantages for the democracy but also as disadvantages. First, many Fintech firms rely on rolling out services and products across Europe. (15 Dec 2016), Examples of 'vote per household' and multi-stage elections at the municipal level 806 8067 22 Dont know where to start? It was a protest against . (28 Jun 2012), Bonus seats to largest party in Greek election This could be seen as undemocratic as only just over half of the voting populations decision was accounted for. referendums. What significant national and regional referendums have taken place in the UK? They have to weigh up a number of competing issues, all of which will be of differing levels of importance to different to voters. Referendums allow the people to participate in politics. Strengthens government - governments decide when and on what issues referendums are called, they frame the question and they dominate the publicity campaign. This has happened a number of times, for example the Welsh Legislative Powers Referendum in 2011. Referendums are used frequently in the UK. 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 . Therefore, for an official referendum to be held, the Westminster Parliament have to agree to it. 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