Lesson 34

Question 1

Adv of referendums?

Answer 1

Important for constitutional changes

Reduced gov. power

Direct Democracy

Political education

Question 2

Dis. of referendums?

Answer 2

Ill - informed decisions

Weakens parliament (issue when parliament is supposed to be sovereign)

Some have incredibly low turnout e.g. AV referendum 2011, which questions their legitamacy

Question 3

What thresholds can be put on referendums?

Answer 3

Setting a minimum turnout of e.g. 50% for the result to be followed

Setting a minimum vote of e.g. 60% ( a super majority) for the result to be followed

Question 4

Burkean principle

Answer 4

Elected officials being allowed to use their conscience to act in the best interests of their constituents in the basis of being fully informed

Question 5

Who oversees referendums?

Answer 5

the independent Electoral Commission

Question 6

In 2011, how many voted against changing the FPTP system to AV?

Answer 6

13 million