referenda Flashcards

1
Q

how do referenda get people more involved in democracy ?

A
  • gives people a direct say in making decisions that affect them
  • increases political participation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what was the turnout @ brexit?

A

72.2%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the only referendum where the result has been ignored?

A

1979 Scottish referendum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what were the results of the 1979 Scottish referendum

A

51% voted yes

32.9% turnout

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

why was the 1979 Scottish referendum ignored ?

A

there was an amendment to the 1979 Scotland act that said it would be repealed if the turnout was less than 40%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

when did the European reform group send their letter to the PM?

A

6th feb 2018

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

how many MPs signed the letter? (including who?)

A

64 MPs, including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Ian Duncan Smith

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what did they want (European reform group)?

A

suggesting ways to secure a hard brexit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

how many Labour MPs and camppaginers wrote their letter

A

30

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

who was the labour letter to?

A

the chair of Labour national executive committee

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what did they want? (labour)

A

urged him to consult their 500,000 members on their brexit policy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what was the turnout at the 2011 AV referendum ?

A

42.2%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

why are referendums bad for representative democracy?

A
  • we have elected representatives to make decisions on our behalf but not using them
  • they are more educated and informed to make the best decision compared to the public
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

why does the public being less educated damage democracy

A

they can be easily manipulated e.g. brexit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what was the leave campaign promise regarding the NHS

A

we send the EU £350 million a week, lets fund our NHS instead

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what was the vote split at Brexit?

A
  1. 9% leave

48. 1% remain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what do momentum want to do regarding nationalisation

A

reverse privatisation of railways, energy sector and and public services

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what do momentum want to do regarding redistribution

A

redistribute wealth and power from the few to the many

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is a party faction?

A

an organised group of politicians or supports who share a political viewpoint, set of ideas or loyalty to an individual or group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

why are referenda good for lib democ?

A

ensure limited got

21
Q

how do referenda ensure limited govt?

A
  • power and decision given to people

- help to prevent Lord Hailsham’s ‘elective dictatorship’

22
Q

in 2016, what were the people asked in EU referendum?

A

whether they wanted to leave or remain in the EU

23
Q

why did EU referendum show limited govt?

A

decision made by people not govt

24
Q

what could govt have done instead of referendum, regarding EU?

A
  • put the question to parl

- pushed it through to get result they wanted - via use of whips

25
Q

why would it have been bad if govt had put EU question to parl?

A
  • result wouldn’t have reflected views of people

- 73% of MPs voted to remain vs 51% of British public voted leave

26
Q

how do referenda not ensure limited govt?

A

they are not binding

27
Q

what can govt technically do with referenda?

A

ignore the result - ignore the will of the people

28
Q

what was the 1979 Scottish referendum on?

A

whether they wanted to create a devolved assembly

29
Q

what was the result of the 1979 Scottish referendum? what did govt do?

A
  • 51.9% voted yes but turnout = 32.9%

- govt ignored it and didn’t give Scotland devolved powers

30
Q

why did 1979 Scottish referendum show they can be bad for democracy?

A
  • they can be rejected by govt

- will of people can be denied = v. undemocratic

31
Q

why can govt ignore referenda?

A

parl is sovereign

32
Q

in reality, would parl ignore result of referendum?

A
  • no -it would be political suicide

- electorate would hold them to account at the next general election

33
Q

why did govt deny 1979 Scottish referendum?

A

in 1978 Scotland act, there was an amendment stating referendum would be repealed if the turnout was below 40%

34
Q

who does sovereignty lie with? (de jure v de facto)

A
  • de jure with Parl

- de facto with people

35
Q

what kind of democracy are referenda?

A

direct democracy - exact opposite rep democ

36
Q

how do referenda undermine rep democ?

A
  • undermine trustee model, instead following opposite model

- delegate model

37
Q

what does referenda mean for MPs?

A

makes job of MPs void

38
Q

what does public being less educated mean?

A

susceptible to being easily manipulated by campaigners

39
Q

how were public deceived in 2016 EU ref?

A
  • leave campaign claimed ‘ we send EU £350m a week, lets fund our NHS instead’
  • figure later proven to be completely false
  • large proportion of people believed it and subsequently voted leave
40
Q

how did people being deceived in 2016 weaken democracy?

A
  • wasn’t actually will of people, it was will of elite

- manipulated people into thinking what they want them to think

41
Q

who should make decisions for people?

A

elected representatives who are educated and informed to make best decision for people using their judgement

42
Q

what have referenda lead to an increase in?

A

political participation

43
Q

what can referenda do to legislation =?

A

legitimise any following legislation - provided there is a high turnout

44
Q

what was turnout for EU referendum?

A

74%

45
Q

why does high turnout make subsequent legislation legitimate?

A
  • high % of electorate voted
  • will of people represented well
  • MPs to get to scrutinise actual bill and details
46
Q

are high turnouts for referenda common?

A

no - public is widely politically apathetic

47
Q

what was turnout in AV referendum in 2011?

A

42.4%

48
Q

why does low turnout not help democracy?

A

true will of people not represented