As referendums

Referendums

Politics – Introduction to AS Politics

Definition of a referendum

• A vote by the whole electorate on a single policy proposal• A referendum allows the demos (or people) to register their

views on an important constitutional or policy issue• 34 referendums have been held in the UK since 1997• Referendums are a form of direct democracy


Why would the Government hold a referendum?

• Because they promised one in their manifesto• As a way of resolving divisions within the party, as with the

EC referendum held in 1975• Because major constitutional issues such as devolution

require the public to register their support• To gauge public opinion• To encourage greater democracy• To keep in touch with public opinion• Because they are in with a good chance of winning


Facts about referendums

• The question is set by the Government, but Parliament calls a referendum

• The Government does not always get its own way (e.g. devolved assemblies to the English regions were defeated in 2004)

• Government is bound by convention (i.e. an unwritten rule) to honour the result. However in practise, it does not have to do so! Governments have set the question a second time in order to gain their preferred result (e.g. in Denmark over the Maastricht Treaty). The Swedish government even ignored the result of a referendum one time, although this is rare


What is the difference between a referendum and an election?

• Referendum• Example of direct democracy• Can be called at any time,

usually on an important issue• The Government does not, in

practise, have to honour the result

• The choice is either yes, or no

• Election• Example of representative

democracy• Many different types called at

regular intervals• All political parties must honour

the result of an election• Choice between several political

parties


How do referendums promote greater democracy?

• By giving the public a chance to register their views• Changes to the constitution (such as devolution) gain

greater legitimacy if they secure public support• By convention, the government must abide by the decision

taken• Can also encourage greater political education, and …• … may increase public interest in politics, especially the

use of initiatives as in Switzerland and some U.S. states


However …

• Turnout for referendums has been low in recent years• Referendums also undermine the role of MPs, who are (in

theory) supposed to represent the people they were elected to serve

• Referendums are also associated with extremists. The former Labour PM Clement Attlee once said that “referendums are the device of demagogues, and dictators”, as was the case with Nazi Germany


Recent turnout in the UK


Arguments FOR referendums

• More democratic than elections, as they give the people a direct say over government policy

• Can offer a precise answer to a question• Referendums have been used successfully in several

democracies, and on several occasions in the UK• Encourage public participation, and stimulate interest in

politics• On important issues, it is argued that the people should be

consulted• Avoids elected representatives becoming out of touch with

the electorate


Arguments AGAINST referendums

• Undermines the sovereignty of Parliament• Far from being more democratic, referendums tend to

enhance the power of the “elected dictatorship” (e.g. the government sets the question)

• Associated with extremist regimes – to the extent that referendums are actually banned in Germany due to their association with the Nazis

• The way the question is phrased can greatly affect the result

• In the referendum campaign, wealthy groups have an unfair advantage



• Issues are often too complex for the people to fully understand (e.g. California 1978 Proposition 13)

• The result can be determined by an apathetic public, as in the case of Welsh devolution where barely 1 in 4 of the electorate said yes

• Governments can ignore the result• Simply a way for governments to deal with party divisions,

as was the case in 1975• Referendums are little more than a judgement about the

government of the day, rather than the issues at stake



• Polarises public opinion• The question set is often poorly thought out• Can be used to discriminate against minorities• Simply a snapshot of public opinion on one given day (e.g.

on the EU constitution in France during 2005) which binds all future generations to the result

• The media has far too much influence over the campaign, and the eventual result (e.g. the media was largely pro-European in the 1975 referendum, and this may have affected the result)

As referendums

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