3.2 Referendums

Question 1

What is a referdendum

Answer 1

• vote on a political question- usually require a yes or no response
• direct democracy
• parliament decided when ref held - are they done for the right descision s
• Parliament decides the threshold for success
• Parliament decides the wording
• technically parliament can ignore the results - would politically undermine parliaments legitimacy- MPs accountable in the next election

Question 2

History of referendums

Answer 2

• ref unknown to the UK until 1973 - 1st national ref in 1975 - labour PM Harold Wilson held wether they wanted to stay in European economic community - only 2 other national ref since - 2011 av , 2016- EU
• Labour Party won in 1997 - promise constitutional reforms - unwritten rule that a constitutional issue solved by a ref - devolution powers given public approval this way
• Brexit vote - resignation of David Cameron

Question 3

How are ref regulated

Answer 3

• conduct of referendums regulated by the electoral commission - check wording of questions - make sure not leading - objective as possible
• monitors expenditure on rival campaign groups - designates 1 approved lead campaign organisation on each side
  Vote leave and Britain stronger in Europe - pre-determined amount of public funding

Question 4

2016 EU referendum

Answer 4

Turnout = 72.2%
Remain= 48.1%
Leave= 51.9%

PM DC in 2015 manifesto to unite the prty

Question 5

2014 Scottish independence referendum

Answer 5

Turnout = 84.6%
Yes= 44.7%
No=55.3%

16-17yo’s can vote - 97% said vote again

Question 6

2011 AV electoral system referendum

Answer 6

Low turnout - 42.2%
Coalition agreement between Lib Dem and conservatives - no one wanted

67.9% no

Question 7

2011 primary legislative powers for wales

Answer 7

Low turnout 35.6%
Yes - 63.5%
- barely a 1/3 of people votes

Question 8

2011 primary legislative powers for wales

Answer 8

Low turnout 35.6%
Yes - 63.5%
- barely a 1/3 of people votes

Question 9

Northern Ireland 1998 Good Friday agreement

Answer 9

71.1% yes
81% turnout
Held to legitimise the northern Irish peace process - clear what voting on - debated before

Question 10

London 1998 mayor and assembly

Answer 10

Turnout low- 34%
73% yes

Question 11

1997 createing a welsh parliament

Answer 11

50.1% turnout
- cast a shadow over devolution due to close result and low turnout
Yes 50.3, no 49,7

Question 12

Scotland 1997 Scottish devolution

Answer 12

• split into 2 question
• should a Scottish parliament be established , should the parliament be able to varry taxes
• both yes
• turnout 60.4%

Question 13

Scotland 1979 - should they’re be a devolved assembly

Answer 13

51.6% yes
Turnout - 63.7%
Cunningham amendment used - 40% due to this it was rejected

Question 14

UK- 1975 should the UK stay in the European economic community

Answer 14

67.2% yes
63.2% turnout
1st Uk wide referendum - held to unify the Labour Party

Question 15

In what circumstances is a referendum held

Answer 15

G- legitimising major government initiative - showing that the government has the peoples approval for a constitutional change - enables the government to to make a major name with less controversy
- 1998 good Friday agreement
- Blair devolution ref

R- getting a government out of a difficult situation - when there is a disagreement within the government or a party is divided on an issue- once people have made a decision allows party to move on
- 1975 hard Wilson EEC REF(labour)
- 2016 David Cameron EU Ref (conservatives)

O- a result of a deal between 2 parties - make an agreement when there is a coalition - parties that disagree can still form coalitions - public can decide
- 2011 - av ref
- 1998- Good Friday agreement

O- In response to pressure - from within thrift party, another party or the Genral public- keeps the party in government popular
- 201 EU Ref- UKIP very popular (won 12.9% of vote in 2015 GE)