2. Definition of a referendum
• A vote by the whole electorate on a single policy proposal
• A referendum allows the demos (or people) to register their
views on an important constitutional or policy issue
• 34 referendums have been held in the UK since 1997
• Referendums are a form of direct democracy
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
3. Why would the Government hold a referendum?
• Because they promised one in their manifesto
• As a way of resolving divisions within the party, as with the
EC referendum held in 1975
• Because major constitutional issues such as devolution
require the public to register their support
• To gauge public opinion
• To encourage greater democracy
• To keep in touch with public opinion
• Because they are in with a good chance of winning
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
4. Facts about referendums
• The question is set by the Government, but Parliament
calls a referendum
• The Government does not always get its own way (e.g.
devolved assemblies to the English regions were defeated
in 2004)
• Government is bound by convention (i.e. an unwritten rule)
to honour the result. However in practise, it does not have
to do so! Governments have set the question a second
time in order to gain their preferred result (e.g. in Denmark
over the Maastricht Treaty). The Swedish government even
ignored the result of a referendum one time, although this
is rare
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
5. What is the difference between a referendum and
an election?
• Referendum • Election
• Example of direct democracy • Example of representative
• Can be called at any time, democracy
usually on an important issue • Many different types called at
• The Government does not, in regular intervals
practise, have to honour the • All political parties must honour
result the result of an election
• The choice is either yes, or no • Choice between several political
parties
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
6. How do referendums promote greater
democracy?
• By giving the public a chance to register their views
• Changes to the constitution (such as devolution) gain
greater legitimacy if they secure public support
• By convention, the government must abide by the decision
taken
• Can also encourage greater political education, and …
• … may increase public interest in politics, especially the
use of initiatives as in Switzerland and some U.S. states
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
7. However …
• Turnout for referendums has been low in recent years
• Referendums also undermine the role of MPs, who are (in
theory) supposed to represent the people they were
elected to serve
• Referendums are also associated with extremists. The
former Labour PM Clement Attlee once said that
“referendums are the device of demagogues, and
dictators”, as was the case with Nazi Germany
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
9. Arguments FOR referendums
• More democratic than elections, as they give the people a
direct say over government policy
• Can offer a precise answer to a question
• Referendums have been used successfully in several
democracies, and on several occasions in the UK
• Encourage public participation, and stimulate interest in
politics
• On important issues, it is argued that the people should be
consulted
• Avoids elected representatives becoming out of touch with
the electorate
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
10. Arguments AGAINST referendums
• Undermines the sovereignty of Parliament
• Far from being more democratic, referendums tend to
enhance the power of the “elected dictatorship” (e.g. the
government sets the question)
• Associated with extremist regimes – to the extent that
referendums are actually banned in Germany due to their
association with the Nazis
• The way the question is phrased can greatly affect the
result
• In the referendum campaign, wealthy groups have an
unfair advantage
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
11. Arguments AGAINST referendums
• Issues are often too complex for the people to fully
understand (e.g. California 1978 Proposition 13)
• The result can be determined by an apathetic public, as in
the case of Welsh devolution where barely 1 in 4 of the
electorate said yes
• Governments can ignore the result
• Simply a way for governments to deal with party divisions,
as was the case in 1975
• Referendums are little more than a judgement about the
government of the day, rather than the issues at stake
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
12. Arguments AGAINST referendums
• Polarises public opinion
• The question set is often poorly thought out
• Can be used to discriminate against minorities
• Simply a snapshot of public opinion on one given day (e.g.
on the EU constitution in France during 2005) which binds
all future generations to the result
• The media has far too much influence over the campaign,
and the eventual result (e.g. the media was largely pro-
European in the 1975 referendum, and this may have
affected the result)
Politics – Introduction to AS Politics
