. There are a variety of reasons that a referendum might be held. Before 1997, referendums were rarely used in the UK, due to concerns over the conflict with the principle of parliamentary democracy. 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 . However, since 2011 there have been three nationwide referendums. Disadvantages of Fibre Optic Cabling. However, since the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 the Conservative Party had been deeply divided by the issue of the European Union. (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). So why is this and what might the advantages and disadvantages of referendums be? 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. In the 2015 General Election UKIP won 12.6% of the votes, taking many votes away from the Conservatives. Background. A post-legislative referendum This is a referendum held after a law is passed to confirm whether people are satisfied with it. 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. 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. This makes it different to an election, where the electorate vote for a representative, and where the result might change the government. This is because electors lack the expertise to vote on complicated issues like Brexit. 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'. Free Trade . Referendums in a direct democracy give the general public direct and unmediated control over government decision-making. In addition, they also had a say on whether . 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. 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. Type your requirements and Ill connect you to I believe this strategy was the most likely way to keep Britain in the EU. A referendum provides the opportunity to vote on a single-issue. On the other hand, there are two very stark downsides to choosing a referendum as the way to resolve an issue. In the 2015 General Election UKIP had won 3.8 million votes (12.6%) but had only secured one seat in Parliament. Indeed, thats how I put it to my fellow European leaders: this is my strategy for keeping Britain in Europe. 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. (20 Sep 2011), Manually counting ballots in Block Vote systems However, although referendums are important for democracy, referendums could be seen to be too complicated for the public to understand. 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. 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. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 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? Advantages of referendums in regard to constitutional changes. 3. Brexit was . Conversely, in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum the SNP at least published a White paper to show there were some plans for a potential exit. Advantages. Schools helped with balanced political education over issue allowing them to be more informed. Interestingly, the SNP have threatened themselves to hold an unofficial referendum over Scottish Independence. , 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! It is clear that when voting the UK population was not well-educated on Brexit. 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. 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. 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 . 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. Although, other laws may be incorporated into it by reference in its provisions. (15 Jun 2015), Direct Democratic Elections in Lebanon - How to Get There The same day, a referendum in Hungary produced a 98% vote to reject the authority of the EU to mandate settlement of refugees in the country. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. However, referendums counteract this problem. Therefore this means that politicians who claim to 'represent' the public are not distorting them as . List of the Pros of Referendums. Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. 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. This could be seen as undemocratic as only just over half of the voting populations decision was accounted for. Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/describe-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-referendums-essay. 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. (21 Mar 2011), Ballot paper design for multiple elections See all Physics resources See all Energy resources . For example, in 2011, the AV Referendum largely became a referendum on performance of the Liberal Democrats in coalition, rather than a referendum on changes to the voting system itself. The public's interests are therefore best protected by 'government by politicians' rather than self-government. Referendums provide the peoples opinion. The only real advantage in an uncodified constitution is that it avoids all the problems involved in achieving a codified one. Citizens are protected from an over-powerful government. This can perhaps be seen by the four years of political turmoil after the referendum surrounding how Britain should actually withdraw from the EU. It creates considerable constitutional uncertainty, but also an opportunity. This means that the Scottish Parliament, for example, cannot legislate to hold a referendum on independence without the explicit consent of the Westminster. Advisory Referendum A referendum in which the result is not legally binding. (08 Aug 2008), Representation of women in Ukraine Additionally, referendums can be used to educate the public and raise citizens' awareness of political issues. -provides a clear answer to a specific question. Now we have Britain's rejection of the EU. This would allow him to lead a yes campaign. (10 Jul 2012), Advantages and disadvantages of sub-municipal wards 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. P1.2-Generating Electricity. Psephology The study of the statistics and probabilities surrounding elections. 5. Political deals. constitutional change) have legitimacy, which is correct for any change that affects the governing of the country, May lead to ill-informed decisions, as the public may not know the specifics and consequences of a policy decision (unlike the government), Parliament is weakened, as sovereignty is undermined, so decisions are not made on the basis of careful discussion, debate and scrutiny, Governments can absolve themselves of responsibility, meaning they make themselves less accountable, Government could be strengthened- they decide the timing of referendums and can dominate the publicity campaign, meaning they could influence the result unfairly, Referendums provide a snapshot of public opinion at one time, so may not be the most reliable method of choosing a policy direction. 16 Year olds were also given the vote. Advantages and Disadvantages of Brexit Introduction: This paper discusses about Pros and Cons of Brexit and Impact of Brexit on UK Economy. Weakens parliament - referendums undermine parliamentary sovereignty, and are decisions that are not made on the basis of deliberation and debate. 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. It undermined representative democracy. 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. 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. In fact, until 1975 there had not been a single nationwide referendum on any political issue. Public are given direct control over policy-making, ensuring their views and interests are directly reflected in policy . 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. However, there are also many disadvantages to having referendums . By clicking Check Writers Offers, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. Strengthens government - governments decide when and on what issues referendums are called, they frame the question and they dominate the publicity campaign. 4. They are also good for dealing with areas wher. 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. Renewable Energy. If Brexit goes ahead, grievances in communities will worsen, so I say to Labour colleagues: we did not get elected to make our constituents poorer and you know thats what Brexit will do. Answer (1 of 4): The advantage of a referendum is that it is giving direct democratic control to the people. Students looking for free, top-notch essay and term paper samples on various topics. 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. (16 Nov 2018), Limits to universal suffrage 1. The process started on June 23, 2016, after the referendum passed by 51.9% to 48.1%. The Term Brexit was coined for the process of the UK leaving the European Union followed by the different advantages and disadvantages of it to the country. There is also an argument that governments need a specific popular mandate for any transcendental changes that were not part of the original platform on which they campaigned. To this end, the alternatives that are likely to fit best to the sides' interests will be . Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. On June 23 rd, referendum was announced from European Union.It was perhaps a better decision at state level that why would their country be . Arguments for private schools. RETRACTED Therefore, it is not really the exercise in direct democracy. Referenda can unite a divided party. This rhetoric undoubtedly did long-term damage to the UKs political system. Do the advantages of referendums outweigh the disadvantages? This was more than a protest against the career opportunities that never knock and the affordable homes that never get built. Advantages of referendums. General Elections can be confusing for voters. Lesson Objectives To understand what a referendum is To examine case studies of referendums To analyse the advantages and disadvantages of referendums 3. Disadvantages of referendums. One of the benefits of them is they take issues out of the party-political arena and allow voters to consider them directly. Thousands ofjobsare at stake in the North-East. A Second Referendum. Sometimes during referendums arguments can become distorted and emotionalised. 5. We address the challenges facing society and the economy, from shedding light on the refugee crisis, to character education in schools, through to developing leaders in the NHS. There is also an argument that governments . Download Free PDF. Free Trade . 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. The Liberal Democrats, who were long-time supporters of electoral reform, insisted on this as part of the Coalition Agreement. The advantages of fibre optic certainly outweigh any disadvantages but it would be disingenuous not to mention the potential issues. The UK EU . Subsequent events showed that there was a wide dispersity of views on how Britain should leave the EU and what leaving even meant. Advantages and disadvantages of the referendum instrument. Sometimes an MP can be elected on a vote as low as only . Direct Democracy Democracy in which power over decision making is but directly in the hands of citizens. 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 . Once the UK landscape had settled, the focus shifted to the risks and opportunities facing the nation. Once people have had a referendum on one issue, they begin to expect it for more issues even if that issue is not well suited to be settled by a referendum. There are three primary reasons why one might consider referendums a good idea. Referendums give an equal say to every voter. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like How are opinion polls bad for elections and referendums due to their inaccuracy?, Why do opinion polls bring more disadvantages due to their inaccuracy?, Give 2 examples of when opinion polls were spectacularly wrong and more. 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. 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. 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. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 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. The central governent is at Westmi. In fact, research done by the Guardian Newspaper found a 4% difference in voting intention based on the alternative wording of the questions a very significant swing! Subsequently, when Brexit was not immediately forthcoming, led to allegations that Parliament had betrayed the people. and then Add to Home Screen. 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. What might the advantages of fibre optic certainly outweigh any disadvantages but it would be disingenuous to. Decide when and on what issues referendums are called, they also had a advantages and disadvantages of referendums uk whether. And what leaving even meant and privacy policy fit best to the people to our terms service. Had settled, the focus shifted to the risks and opportunities facing the nation part the... The European Union the hands of citizens allow him to lead a yes campaign population was not immediately forthcoming led... Although, other laws may be incorporated into it by reference in its provisions from. Is that it avoids all the problems involved in achieving a codified one Treaty in the! 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