7499303
Enhancing Democracy
- Facts
- In 1950 85% of
UK citizens
voted, in 2016
66% voted.
- At the same time the UK had
an on-off relationship with
Europe, this has been a long
ass issue. We have no set
that relationship to "off"
- In 1950 85% of
UK citizens
voted, in 2016
66% voted.
- Referendums
- 1975 EU Referendum -
Ratified entry to the EEC
now called the EU
- 1997 Scottish Devolution - Re-established
a Scottish Parliament with devolved
powers
- 1998 Belfast Agreement - Brought peace
and a political settlement to N.I
- 2014 Scottish Independence - Voted to remain
45/55 but the SNP are much stronger as a result
- 2016 EU Referendum - UK voted to leave requiring a
complete renegotiation of trade deals with the EU
- 1975 EU Referendum -
Ratified entry to the EEC
now called the EU
- EU Referendum Arguments for and against holding it
- For
- Political Education -
The only way to
educate the
population is to
involve them.
- Responsive Government
- Allow for the public to
voice an opinion on
specific issues. They are
forced to listen because
the people actually have
an influece
- Direct Democracy - The voter
turnout was 71.6%, higher
than the previous GE. People
became engaged and
hopefully it will carry over into
the GE
- Reduced Government Power - Referendums offer power to the public, even
if Government has a strong majority it doesn't matter because that all
means nothing in a referendum
- Constitutional Changes - Constitutional Changes are far more important than
normal legislative rulings. They affect the way the country is ruled, it is only fair
that the people get a say in it
- Political Education -
The only way to
educate the
population is to
involve them.
- Against
- Ill-Informed decisions. It was a
mistake to give such a
significant decision to the
general public when we have
politicians who's job it is to
make decisions like this
- Irresponsible Government - The
government can pass the buck
of the fallout of leaving onto
others if it goes wrong. But can
claim all the success if it goes
right.
- Strengthens Government - They have control over when this
referendum is held, they can choose the phrasing (We normally vote
for the "yes answer") They can also dominate the public campaign
- Weakens Parliament - Referendums don't
strengthen democracy but substitute
representative for direct which simply
undermines parliament.
- Unreliable Views - Referendums
only provide a snapshot of a
view point. A poll after the
referendum showed if it was
held straight after "Remain"
would've won.
- Ill-Informed decisions. It was a
mistake to give such a
significant decision to the
general public when we have
politicians who's job it is to
make decisions like this
- For
- Ways to strengthen a democracy
- Focus Groups
- Politicians get a
group of people
together and they
can target their
campaigns better
- Politicians get a
group of people
together and they
can target their
campaigns better
- Citizens Jury
- Using a
representative
sample,
citizens are
asked to
discuss a
series of
approaches.
They can cross
examine
ministers to
keep them in
check.
- Using a
representative
sample,
citizens are
asked to
discuss a
series of
approaches.
They can cross
examine
ministers to
keep them in
check.
- Recall election
- A procedure by which voters can remove an elected
official from office through a direct vote.
- A procedure by which voters can remove an elected
official from office through a direct vote.
- Primary Election
- An election to
decide party
leaders. Anyone
member of the
party can vote in
these elections
- An election to
decide party
leaders. Anyone
member of the
party can vote in
these elections
- E-Petition
- Any
e-petition
with
100,000
signatures
has to be
debated in
commons,
50,000 for
parliament
to respond
to it
- Any
e-petition
with
100,000
signatures
has to be
debated in
commons,
50,000 for
parliament
to respond
to it
- Focus Groups
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