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. Check out Adapt the A-level & GCSE revision timetable app. an academic expert within 3 minutes. The theoretical advantage of flexibility is one that is too easily exploited for self-serving reasons. (25 marks) Referendums are a However, referendums give control over often extremely complex moral and political issues to voters. Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Referendums, Society is more likely to accept the decision. 4. A Second Referendum. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Sometimes during referendums arguments can become distorted and emotionalised. Advantages and disadvantages of the referendum instrument. 2. (15 Jun 2015), Direct Democratic Elections in Lebanon - How to Get There Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. European Communities Act (1972) -The Act of Parliament that saw Britain join the EEC in 1973. Referendums can challenge parliamentary sovereignty and representative democracy. Switzerland has a long tradition here as well. This would allow him to lead a yes campaign. Has sovereignty moved between different branches of government? Many prominent figures in British Politics had openly spoken out about the potential use of referendums in the UK: I could not consent to the introduction into our national life of a device so alien to all our traditions as the referendum which has only too often been the instrument of Nazism and fascism Clement Attlee, The late Lord Attlee was right when he said that the referendum was a device of dictators and demagogues Margaret Thatcher. . Physics P1 4.4 Energy and the environment. By clicking Check Writers Offers, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. The strategy failed. Disadvantages of referendums. 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. By continuing, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. 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. , Edexcel 6GP01 Government and Politics Unit 1 Exam 20/05/2014 . 5. (19 Mar 2014), Formula for the number of Members of Parliament? In fact, it is highly unlikely they would have signed the agreement without it. In reality, this almost always means that the Westminster Government will have to agree to it too. 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(22 Aug 2013), Comparative examples of electoral procedures and legislation considering the customary laws of indigenous communities I failedbut it all flowed from an attempt to do the right thing. Devolution in Scotland and Wales was presented in 1998 as the bulk of the general public voted yes in regards to wanting more power. Advantages and Disadvantages of Brexit Introduction: This paper discusses about Pros and Cons of Brexit and Impact of Brexit on UK Economy. Political division in both the UK and Colombia has been markedly intensified by the 2016 campaigns there.. Scots will not be ready for another independence referendum until a stronger economic case is made to break from the UK, according to SNP leadership hopeful Kate Forbes. Referendums are limited if the potential outcomes are not prepared for. 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. We cannot let something we know will harm our constituents go ahead. Seats where one party regularly scores more than 50 per cent of the vote (210 seats . Advantages. The decision being put to the people meant it was legitimised. This protects representatives in the future from some of the political comeback if the decision appears to be misguided. 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. Explain the Benefits and Downsides of using Referendums in the UK? The European Union has spent much of their time bringing the country along, often reluctantly . This would create a de facto advisory referendum in Scotland, although completely unofficially. What are the different types of referendums? Brexit is a major constitutional change. and then Add to Home Screen. For example, British voters were given a choice in 2016 on whether to stay in or leave the European Union. Additionally, referendums can be used to educate the public and raise citizens' awareness of political issues. The advantages and disadvantages of different electrical energy sources. Renewable Energy. 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. In addition, they also had a say on whether . (21 Oct 2010), Inappropriate Electoral Systems 3. The results of referendums have had major consequences. For example, an individual might not understand the significance of their vote to a political question, and that it can have long term effects that they may not take into considerationwhilst voting. Brexit was . They are used to decide on a particular policy proposal, often of constitutional significance. Depending on the precise rules adopted, referendums and initiatives 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. The central governent is at Westmi. 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. 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. This took place on both sides of the debate. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. For example, the EU Withdrawal Act (2018) repealed the European Communities Act (1973). Referendums are an example of direct democracy, whereas elections are a form of representative democracy. Have constitutional reforms since 1997 reduced government power? Rousseau and Mills argue that referendums represent the Tyranny of the majority. Direct Democracy Democracy in which power over decision making is but directly in the hands of citizens. Secondary Legislation Legislation that is delegated to Ministers or another body. 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. Supporters of the use of referendums argue that, in the context of increasing voter apathy and disenchantment with traditional forms of democracy, direct democracy can help to re-engage voters with politics and democracy. Referendums can settle long-standing and controversial issues once and for all. 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 . 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'. Political pressure. A PowerPoint illustrating how referendums are used in the UK, and what their advantages are. (08 Aug 2008), Representation of women in Ukraine Referendums are a direct vote by citizens on a political issue. In most elections this does not happen (especially under a proportional system) however in a referendum there is one winning side and one losing side. However, there was little discussion on what leaving would mean and how Britain might leave the EU. 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. Answer (1 of 4): The advantage of a referendum is that it is giving direct democratic control to the people. Another argument advanced in favour of referendums is that they can be used to resolve political problems, particularly for incumbent governments; where a governing party is divided over an issue, for example, holding a referendum can help reach a solution on the issue without splitting the party (one example of this is the 1975 UK referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EC, an issue over which the ruling Labour government was deeply divided). 3 reasons why referendums are held. So why is this and what might the advantages and disadvantages of referendums be? In total 406 constituencies voted Leave in the Brexit Referendum but only around 160 MPs had voted to leave. RETRACTED Reserved Power Powers that are kept by the Westminster Government and not devolved, for example Defence. The relationship between the executive and Parliament, The Powers of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to Dictate Events and Determine Policy, The Influence of the Supreme Court on the Executive, The Comparative Powers of the Commons and Lords. Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/describe-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-referendums-essay. One advantage of using referendums in the UK is that they enable the public that are over 18 to approve or disprove important . GCSE Renewable Energy Sources (1) 4.3 Power from the sun and earth. A core purpose of referendums is to engage those with relatively low information about the issues, which is to say the general population, in the choice. It provides a level of political support for difficult decisions. However, although referendums are important for democracy, referendums could be seen to be too complicated for the public to understand. Additional materials, such as the best quotations, synonyms and word definitions to make your writing easier are also offered here. 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. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Referendums are held only at the discretion of the Government. This is unlike an unwritten constitution because a written constitution is contained in one single document. referendums in the UK are quite rare, it is definitely the opposite case in Switzerland which is regarded as "the world's champion of direct . About Pros and Cons of Brexit on UK Economy not let something we know will harm our constituents ahead! 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