Source Question
The source involves comments on the 2016 EU referendum from the Constitution Unit of University
College, London and statistical information concerning the referendum provided by Parliament.
In a parliamentary democracy, advisory referendums are potentially destabilising because they
generate alternative, competing sources of democratic legitimacy. If a referendum demonstrates
that a majority of the public hold the opposite view to elected representatives, which view of
democratic legitimacy carries most authority? Some reasonably take the view that a referendum
won by a very narrow margin is an insufficient mandate for major change. A ‘Leave’ vote, if
implemented, is effectively irreversible: a ‘Remain’ vote leaves open the possibility of future
referendums on the same issue. For this reason, many constitutional commentators believe that
major referendums should require some form of super-majority – 60 per cent of votes cast is the
threshold most commonly suggested.
However, there are arguments that support the legitimacy of the EU referendum. It produced a
turnout of 33 million voters, more than any other referendum. It was a very rare example of direct
democracy for the whole of the UK. Clearly parliament only exists and MPs only function by and
for the will of the people. Key factors endorse its legitimacy: holding it was a feature of the
Conservative manifesto. World leaders regard the vote as being decisive, as Mrs May has stressed
in meetings with EU leaders. In summary – the government is constitutionally mandated to
implement this decisive vote by the people.
Proportion of the vote across the UK in the EU Referendum June 2016
(Sources: adapted from https://constitution-unit.com/2016/07/22/the-eu-referendum-andsome-
paradoxes-of-democratic-legitimacy/ and http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/
ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7639)
Using the source, evaluate the view that referendums create more problems than solutions.
In your response you must:
• compare and contrast the different opinions in the source
• examine and debate these views in a balanced way
• analyse and evaluate only the information presented in the source.
(30)
The source involves comments on the 2016 EU referendum from the Constitution Unit of University
College, London and statistical information concerning the referendum provided by Parliament.
In a parliamentary democracy, advisory referendums are potentially destabilising because they
generate alternative, competing sources of democratic legitimacy. If a referendum demonstrates
that a majority of the public hold the opposite view to elected representatives, which view of
democratic legitimacy carries most authority? Some reasonably take the view that a referendum
won by a very narrow margin is an insufficient mandate for major change. A ‘Leave’ vote, if
implemented, is effectively irreversible: a ‘Remain’ vote leaves open the possibility of future
referendums on the same issue. For this reason, many constitutional commentators believe that
major referendums should require some form of super-majority – 60 per cent of votes cast is the
threshold most commonly suggested.
However, there are arguments that support the legitimacy of the EU referendum. It produced a
turnout of 33 million voters, more than any other referendum. It was a very rare example of direct
democracy for the whole of the UK. Clearly parliament only exists and MPs only function by and
for the will of the people. Key factors endorse its legitimacy: holding it was a feature of the
Conservative manifesto. World leaders regard the vote as being decisive, as Mrs May has stressed
in meetings with EU leaders. In summary – the government is constitutionally mandated to
implement this decisive vote by the people.
Proportion of the vote across the UK in the EU Referendum June 2016
(Sources: adapted from https://constitution-unit.com/2016/07/22/the-eu-referendum-andsome-
paradoxes-of-democratic-legitimacy/ and http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/
ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7639)
Using the source, evaluate the view that referendums create more problems than solutions.
In your response you must:
• compare and contrast the different opinions in the source
• examine and debate these views in a balanced way
• analyse and evaluate only the information presented in the source.
(30)
