EVALUATE THE VIEW THAT REFERENDUMS HAVE A POSITVE IMPACT ON
DEMOCRACY
Evaluate the view that since 1997- referendums in the UK have brought
more advantages than disadvantages
For- benefit democracy in the Uk Direct democracy of referendums
by directly involving the people in are a challenge to parliamentary
decision making on important sovereignty and representative
issues on which the electorate has democracy
the right to be consulted on Ordinary people lack the expertise
Also allows important single issues to make decisions on complex
to be isolated and an unambiguous issues which are often presented
popular vote to be given. as simple by referendum questions
Also the fact its held between and campaigns and can be easily
election gives people an misled by campaigns and political
opportunity to have their say more leaders. Leave campaign and their
frequently preventing the false claims that leaving the EU
government from becoming would free over 350 million per
remote and unaccountable. week to fund the NHS
Brexit- most people in parliament
wanted to remain
Referendums are sometimes held Sometimes referendums are held
due to public pressure and to give to benefit certain parties
legitimacy to key constitutional This can be seen as negative for
issues ( for example it has been democracy and politics in the UK
the accepted practice to secure a as it leads to important
demonstration of public support constitutional issues being decided
before embarking on important in order to benefit individual
constitutional changes) parties at a specific time, rather
than due to democratic pressure.
Engage voters and increase their Many referendums failing to
political awareness engage voters leading to the
- Scottish independence legitimacy of the outcome being
referendum in 2014 has been questioned as the result does not
praised for giving an prove broad support
opportunity to air a wide - 2011 AV referendum turnout
range of issues related to the of 42.2
independent, economy and - 2011 Welsh further
trident devolution which had 35.6%
- Brexit educated many turnout
individuals on the impact of - Turnouts in local elections
the EU on British political are even less
system
evaluate the view that referendums since 1997 have not supported
democracy but have been used for other political purposes
YES NO
, Referendums have been used to Benefit the party in office at the
benefit the party in office at the time
time
Patries often use referendums to Referendums provide legitimacy
gain/ maintain popularity
Damage of the EU referendum – However, ultimately public wanted
held to thwart UKIP this- democratic descion
Evaluate the argument that FPTP electoral system should be scrapped and
replaced with a more proportional electoral system
Representation and proportionality Can be seen as representative as it
First Past The Post is very has a strong MP constituency link
unrepresentative, as it is a simple The relatively small size of most
plurality system that results in FPTP constituencies, and the fact
elected MPs often lacking majority that a single MP is responsible for
support in their constituency. This those who live within the
weakens the mandate of each MP, constituency, result in effective
leading to many voters feeling representation of local interests
unrepresented and MPs lacking and a strong link between the
legitimacy. constituency and MP.
FPTP results in a ‘winner’s bonus’, - House of Commons found
where the party with the most that MPs handle
votes, even when they don’t have approximately 300-500
a majority, hugely benefits and emails per week, whilst it is
enjoys a share of the seats in estimated that MPs allocate
excess of the share of the vote it around 40% of their time to
receives. This is because this party constituency matters,
will often win a lot of the marginal including surgeries and
seats between the two main casework.
parties, which usually determine Example of MP representing their
the election outcome. constituents
FPTP favours parties with Also leads to the exclusion of
geographically concentrated extremist parties
support and therefore massively
under-represents the majority of
minor parties.
Voters only get one vote and can Its extremely easy to use for voters
therefore only vote for one party, who only have to select one
preventing them from showing candidate/ party. The result is also
their political preferences more usually known early in the morning
fully. after polling day and the
This contrasts with the Additional government is quickly formed.
Member System when voters get 2 - In 2024, the first
votes, one for a party and one for a constituency result
constituency member. They can (Sunderland South) was
therefore vote for a ‘split-ticket’ if announced at 23:15 on the
DEMOCRACY
Evaluate the view that since 1997- referendums in the UK have brought
more advantages than disadvantages
For- benefit democracy in the Uk Direct democracy of referendums
by directly involving the people in are a challenge to parliamentary
decision making on important sovereignty and representative
issues on which the electorate has democracy
the right to be consulted on Ordinary people lack the expertise
Also allows important single issues to make decisions on complex
to be isolated and an unambiguous issues which are often presented
popular vote to be given. as simple by referendum questions
Also the fact its held between and campaigns and can be easily
election gives people an misled by campaigns and political
opportunity to have their say more leaders. Leave campaign and their
frequently preventing the false claims that leaving the EU
government from becoming would free over 350 million per
remote and unaccountable. week to fund the NHS
Brexit- most people in parliament
wanted to remain
Referendums are sometimes held Sometimes referendums are held
due to public pressure and to give to benefit certain parties
legitimacy to key constitutional This can be seen as negative for
issues ( for example it has been democracy and politics in the UK
the accepted practice to secure a as it leads to important
demonstration of public support constitutional issues being decided
before embarking on important in order to benefit individual
constitutional changes) parties at a specific time, rather
than due to democratic pressure.
Engage voters and increase their Many referendums failing to
political awareness engage voters leading to the
- Scottish independence legitimacy of the outcome being
referendum in 2014 has been questioned as the result does not
praised for giving an prove broad support
opportunity to air a wide - 2011 AV referendum turnout
range of issues related to the of 42.2
independent, economy and - 2011 Welsh further
trident devolution which had 35.6%
- Brexit educated many turnout
individuals on the impact of - Turnouts in local elections
the EU on British political are even less
system
evaluate the view that referendums since 1997 have not supported
democracy but have been used for other political purposes
YES NO
, Referendums have been used to Benefit the party in office at the
benefit the party in office at the time
time
Patries often use referendums to Referendums provide legitimacy
gain/ maintain popularity
Damage of the EU referendum – However, ultimately public wanted
held to thwart UKIP this- democratic descion
Evaluate the argument that FPTP electoral system should be scrapped and
replaced with a more proportional electoral system
Representation and proportionality Can be seen as representative as it
First Past The Post is very has a strong MP constituency link
unrepresentative, as it is a simple The relatively small size of most
plurality system that results in FPTP constituencies, and the fact
elected MPs often lacking majority that a single MP is responsible for
support in their constituency. This those who live within the
weakens the mandate of each MP, constituency, result in effective
leading to many voters feeling representation of local interests
unrepresented and MPs lacking and a strong link between the
legitimacy. constituency and MP.
FPTP results in a ‘winner’s bonus’, - House of Commons found
where the party with the most that MPs handle
votes, even when they don’t have approximately 300-500
a majority, hugely benefits and emails per week, whilst it is
enjoys a share of the seats in estimated that MPs allocate
excess of the share of the vote it around 40% of their time to
receives. This is because this party constituency matters,
will often win a lot of the marginal including surgeries and
seats between the two main casework.
parties, which usually determine Example of MP representing their
the election outcome. constituents
FPTP favours parties with Also leads to the exclusion of
geographically concentrated extremist parties
support and therefore massively
under-represents the majority of
minor parties.
Voters only get one vote and can Its extremely easy to use for voters
therefore only vote for one party, who only have to select one
preventing them from showing candidate/ party. The result is also
their political preferences more usually known early in the morning
fully. after polling day and the
This contrasts with the Additional government is quickly formed.
Member System when voters get 2 - In 2024, the first
votes, one for a party and one for a constituency result
constituency member. They can (Sunderland South) was
therefore vote for a ‘split-ticket’ if announced at 23:15 on the
