2854601
Description
Mind Map by Gabrielle Hamer, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Gabrielle Hamer
over 9 years ago
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Arguments for and against the
wider use of referendums in the
UK
- Key
- For
- Against
- For
- They're inconsistent with out system of parliamentary govt
- Undermine representative democracy
by allowing governments to duck their
responsibility to govern
- Tyranny of the majority
- Tyranny of the majority
- Undermine representative democracy
by allowing governments to duck their
responsibility to govern
- Regular use could lead to apathy and low
turnouts that might distort the results e.g. the
turnout for the Welsh Assembly was only
50.1%
- Tyranny of the organised minority
- Tyranny of the organised minority
- Decisions are not always
considered final. Governments
sometimes go back again until they
get what they want e.g Scottish
parliament refs
- Undermine CCR e.g. during ref campaigns like that of 1975,
CCR is suspended over the issue in question in order to allow
full public debate.
- Most issues are too complicated to be condensed into
a simple yes/no question. For example, should the
question of joining the Euro be left to the public or
economic experts?
- Funding differentials can mean the referendum is not fought on an equal playing field
- 'yes' better funded in 1975
- 'yes' better funded in 1975
- Govts can schedule and phrase
referendums in a way that
makes their more favourable
result more likely
- E.g. in 1975 - a more neutral question would've
prevented people from following the 'status quo'
- E.g. in 1975 - a more neutral question would've
prevented people from following the 'status quo'
- Offer a more direct form of democracy.
they encourage participation by allowing
citizens to have a real input into the
decisions that matter to them.
- Provide a way of focusing or renewing the mandate on a particular issue
- Legitimise major constitutional changes e.g. refs held ahead of the creation of
the Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly.
- Could be used to provide a clear and final answer where parliament is deadlocked.
- Could provide a method for resolving tricky moral questions
- Can prevent dangerous divisions within political parties over controversial
issues - prevents govts from collapsing and provides greater continuity in
governments
- e.g. 1975 EEC membership & Labour cabinet
- e.g. 1975 EEC membership & Labour cabinet
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