Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Referendums AS GOV AND POLITICS
- Advantages
- direct involvement of citizens in decision making
- If the public are able to piock the laws in the country they live in, more likely that
they will choose to abide the laws so perhaps a better relationship between
government and citizens
- enables the people to have a say
- Disadvantages
- referendums undermine parliamentary sovereignty- it is the job og elected MPS to carry out the duties they
have been elected for. Some issues are too complex to be catagorised into yes/no or for the electorate to understand- MPs elected to represent our views
- voters show little desire to participate - 41% turnout in May 2011 AV referendum, 35% turnout in wales over
devolution to welsh assembly March 2011, the actual assembly was created due to the 50% turnout in 1997 which
led to its establishment (suffering a lack of democratic mandate).
- They create political uncertainty - especially when the results are certain
- decisions made now could impact future generations- like Bristol voting yes for a mayor (53% yes), welsh electorate in 1997 passed notion of an assembly with 51% votes in favour.
- timing of campaigns could bias results- Scottish referendum 2014 held after
commonwealth games in Glasgow, government want people to vote when their is a
nationalistic atmosphere? Could be argued that goverements only hold referendums
when they have predictictions which will benefiet them
- wording of questions may also be biased because they make voters feel like they have
to choose one side- Manchesrer cingestion charges " do you agree with the Transport
innovation fund proposals", no mention of congestion charges so was a misleading
question- phrased to encourage positive response
- tyranny of the manority - should the government listen to the majority ang ignore minority? How will
democracy be ensured for the minoritry