41718
referendums
- Definition: when all
citizens are given the
opportunity to vote
fore or against a
specific issue
- Do Referendums enhance Democracy? Should referendums be used more regularly?
Why do people oppose referendums? etc.
- Why people want more referendums - why they
think it enhances democracy
- a) enhances democracy bc allows all voters to get involved - closest we have to Direct Democracy
- b) in election manifestos all policies are grouped together, clear verdict on specific issues from people needs referendums
- c) decision made by people has more legitimacy than one
made by elected political class
- d) the referendum process creates a more informed and educated
electorate, people are exposed to both sides of argument
- a) enhances democracy bc allows all voters to get involved - closest we have to Direct Democracy
- why people oppose referendums - or why people emphasize
that the outcome of referendums do not enhance democracy
- a) Expertise of politicians - taking decisions away from them and giving to
ordinary people can lead to lower quality decisions being made.
- b) allow tyranny of the majority - unlike regular decisions made in govt, the
needs of minorities are not represented thf compromises cannot be made
- switzerland with minarets
- switzerland with minarets
- c) decisions don't represent policy preferences therefore
inferences cannot be drawn- they are often made based
on superfluous or irrelevant factors.
- d) those who turn out - strongest feelings about pol issues and usually
work against interests of moderates and less well off in society.
- eg AV could have benefited less well of to choose a party
that better reps their needs but turn out was mostly middle/
upper classes
- eg AV could have benefited less well of to choose a party
that better reps their needs but turn out was mostly middle/
upper classes
- e) people not well enough informed - referendums seem to be trivializing the
decision making process, defeats purpose of electing representatives
- a) Expertise of politicians - taking decisions away from them and giving to
ordinary people can lead to lower quality decisions being made.
- should be used more regularly bc turns
out voters therefore democratic
- it is issue voting therefore easier for people to vote then regular elections
because only need to consider one issue as opposed to entire manifesto
- turn out can be credited to campaign effects - which in turn educate the voters
- but often is campaign that invests most money wins eg...
- but often is campaign that invests most money wins eg...
- it is issue voting therefore easier for people to vote then regular elections
because only need to consider one issue as opposed to entire manifesto
- discredited for its instability
- instability with voter turn out - especially
compared to general elections
- Canada turn out results fluctuate
from 59%-80% with no pattern whilst
last few general elections had steady
patterns btn 59 and 64%
- Canada turn out results fluctuate
from 59%-80% with no pattern whilst
last few general elections had steady
patterns btn 59 and 64%
- sometimes floating voters make decisions towards
the end which can cause a large swing this is often
when the issue hasn't been highlighted enough
- instability with voter turn out - especially
compared to general elections
- Why people want more referendums - why they
think it enhances democracy
- impacts of referendum
- big effect on policy outcome bc
makes final decision
- eg referendum on Scotland leaving
UK - devolution ref -made final decision
- next parliament could overturn it but wouldnt bc decisions made by people
have higher more respected status than ones made by opposing parties
- next parliament could overturn it but wouldnt bc decisions made by people
have higher more respected status than ones made by opposing parties
- eg referendum on Scotland leaving
UK - devolution ref -made final decision
- can rescue parties from
internal disputes
- many say Conservative party divided bc of
EU - if held referendum then final answer
could solve their inter-party disputes
- many say Conservative party divided bc of
EU - if held referendum then final answer
could solve their inter-party disputes
- some argue that they haven't
affected existence of
democracy but they def. have
not weakened effects either.
- big effect on policy outcome bc
makes final decision
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