Transcript Document

The nature of
representation and
Referendums
AS Government and Politics
Professor Russell Deacon
GP1 People, Politics and Participation
Electoral Systems
This session
 Illustrate what democracy looks like;
 We will identify representative and direct democracy and the
pros and cons of each
 Examine the history and nature of referenda in the UK;
 Explore a referendum in the UK;
 Define a referendum through an example
What does democracy look like?
 Voting/elections – choice of parties/candidates, free
and fair
 Equal rights
 Freedom of expression
 Media free from government control
 Public participation
 Accountable to the public
MPs: Delegates or
Representatives?
 Edmund Burke argued that an MP has a duty to his/her
constituents to listen to debates in parliament on certain
issues, read up on the matter and then cast a judgement
based on what they’ve learnt on behalf of their constituents.
 This would make them a representative of the people who
elected them.
 However, other MP’s argue that they have a duty to their
constituents to listen to what the people have to say on
different issues and then decide based on popular public
opinion (of their constituents) on what to do, regardless of
their personal opinions.
 This would make them a delegate of the people who elected
them.
Direct Democracy
• Direct Democracy is not practical to practice in most
Western democracies today, elements of it still survive.
• In Switzerland, the public regularly get the opportunity
to vote on political issues and policies.
• In New England, US, particularly the state of Maine,
town meetings held regularly give local residents the
opportunity to be involved in decision making on
matters as great as same-sex marriage down to more
nitty gritty things like the management of local
facilities.
Referendum
 Exercise 1 – What is a referendum?
 Referendum – A vote on a single issue in which all
registered electors are eligible to take part.
 Instead of being asked to give a verdict on the
administration as a whole – as in a general election –
they are asked their opinion on one measure or act
presented to them by the legislature.
Referenda in the UK
 Until recent years, Britain has had little experience on voting
in referenda. One of the first referendum in years was held in
1973 by the Conservatives on the issue of borders between
Northern and the Republic of Ireland.
 Labour then allowed Scotland and Wales to vote in a
referendum on devolution in 1979.

The first UK-wide referendum was held in 1975 when Harold
Wilson (Labour) asked the country ‘Do you think that the
United Kingdom should stay in the European Economic
Community (the Common Market)’
Features of UK democracy
Features of democracy in the UK
Limitations/problems
Elections every 5 years
Voter apathy
Freedom of expression
Causes community friction
House of Commons and Lords
Public not involved
First Past the Post
Not as fair as PR
Free media
Newspaper and TV dominated by small
group of owners/companies
Two main types of democracy:
Direct democracy
Representative democracy
The people themselves making a The people elect representatives to
decision
make decisions on their behalf
Exercise 1 b What do you think the advantages of direct
democracy and those of representative democracy are? Try
to think of three of each for direct democracy it could be
harder for the public to blame just one person or
government and for representative democracy it could be
too many referenda might lead to voter apathy
Advantages of direct
democracy:
 Everyone’s opinions are counted
 Represents minorities
 Less arguments/fighting as people decide
 Allows public to focus on specific issues
 Educates voting public – more knowledgeable about issues
 Harder for public to blame just one person
 Allows for more local decisions
 ‘decision by the people’ carries greater authority
Advantages of representative
democracy:
 Easier to organise/cheaper than referenda
 Quicker to make a decision, more control
 Representatives have more time to study issues –
‘better informed’
 May prevent extremism
 Too many referenda might lead to voter apathy
Referenda
 Until the 1970s, the British public enjoyed no formal opportunities to
affect political decisions between elections
 The first major referendum was held in 1975 over British membership of
the EEC
 Since 1975 referendums have become part of the fabric of British
political life – sometimes used, but more frequently refused
 On the face of it, enthusiasts for the referendum as a political device in
Britain could be greatly cheered by the record of Labour governments
after 1997
 Several referendums have been held on a range of issues
 We should also note that Westminster by-elections are often used as
tests of opinion and sometimes MPs have used these as referendums –
David Davies
Referendums
 Provides a check on the government, as the have less control over
the outcome, but also extend government power as they chose
when to have referendums.
 Governments are made more responsible as referendums force
them to listen to the public.
 Wider political participation creates a better informed and
educated electorate.
 Give the general public direct and unmediated control over
decision-making, ensuring that their views are expressed.
Exercise 2 Referendums – A Welsh
Case Study
1. What is the referendum on?
New powers to make some laws
2. Who makes the laws now?
Mainly English members of Parliament
3. What were the politicians in Wales doing before?
Talking about things
4. Can they make any changes?
Secondary legislation
Referendums – A Welsh Case Study
5. Will Wales become independent?
No
6. Who is in favour of more powers?
All the main political parties
7. Who are UKIP?
The people who don’t like working with the French or Germans
8. Why doesn’t the super hero speak Welsh?
Because the software would have a heart attack
Referendums – A Welsh Case Study
 Exercise 3 – Read the extract and answer the questions
 1. How many of Wales counties voted yes in the referendum?
 21
 2. What did a yes vote give?
 The vote will give the assembly direct law-making power in 20
devolved areas, such as health and education.
 3. What would no vote have given?
 A No vote would have kept the current system where the
assembly asked Parliament for powers to be transferred to
Cardiff on a case-by-case basis.
Referendums – A Welsh Case Study
Exercise 3 – Read the extract and answer the questions
4. Was turn out good?
Not in some areas it was below 30 per cent
5. Did voters get enough information?
A poll conducted by ICM in the days leading up to the
referendum found 48% of respondents said they had not
received enough information.
6. Do voters now want independence?
No only 16 per cent do
Referenda in the UK
 After May 1997, referenda in the UK were held to
resolve the issue of devolution and to shape the future
of London’s government. The six counties of Ireland
then also voted on and approved the Good Friday
Agreement.
 In 2011, another UK-wide referendum was held on the
issue of whether the UK should change the way it elects
its Members of Parliament to Westminster, from First
Past the Post system to the Alternative Vote system.
Exercise 4 Referendum a 2011
example
 Which broadcast from the 2011 AV referendum do you
feel put forward the best case?
 Yes and Yes
 No and No
 Give reasons for you answer
Referenda in the UK
Year
Topic
Turnout
(%)
Outcome
1973
Border poll in Northern Ireland: electorate asked
is they wanted to remain part of the UK or join
the republic of Ireland.
61.0
Massive majority to remain
in the UK
1975
UK’s membership of the EEC: electorate asked
if they wished to stay in the Community or
withdraw from it
64.0
64% majority to stay in (43%
of whole UK electorate)
1979
Devolution to Scotland and Wales: did the
electorate want a devolved assembly
Sc: 60.1
Wa: 58.3
Scotland: Narrow majority in
favour
Wales: majority against
1997
Devolution to Scotland and Wales: did the
electorate want a devolved assembly
Sc: 60.1
Wa: 50.1
Scotland: Strong in favour
Wales: Very narrow majority
in favour
1998
Good Friday Agreement: voters of both Northern
Ireland & Irish Republic asked to endorse the
package
81.0
Overwhelming majority in
favour
2011
Alternative Vote and Welsh Primary Powers
42 and 37
UK no, Wales yes
Referenda in the UK
 Why are they recently more popular?
 In 2000, referenda, and rules on how to run them, were
put into legislation under the Political Parties, Elections
and Referendums Act 2000.
 Governments have found referenda useful in resolving
more controversial issues that cut across parties. They
tend to be held when ministers would rather let the
public decide on a matter than make the final decision
themselves.
What do you think can be good or
bad about referenda?
What do you think can be good or
bad about referenda?
Exercise 5
You are an intern for the Welsh Office in London. The
Secretary of State (responsible for the elections) is asking you
to debate either for or against referendums in a round table
debate in 10 minutes time.
You have 10 minutes to learn the pro or anti arguments before
going to the meeting.
Exercise 6
 Firstly put your notes away.
 From all that you have heard and discussed in your
groups think of four good things about direct democracy
and four bad things.
Referenda in the UK Advantages of
referenda
• A decision made by a referendum will carry more
authority than one made by parliament.
• They can help to save democracy when people have
become disenchanted with it.
• They encourage people to take part in politics.
• They make the electorate better informed on
certain issues.
Referenda in the UK Advantages of
referenda
• They are better than general elections in the sense
that people can specify their views on a particular
issue in a referendum as opposed to a range of issues
in a general election.
• They help the government make decisions too big for
them to decide.
• They are good for tackling issues that cut across
party lines, especially moral issues.
Referenda in the UK-Disadvantages of
referenda
 They are complicated for the electorate –
particularly when they are expected to vote on big
issues like leaving the EU.
 They can over-simplify things such as leaving the
EU.
 They only tell you what the public are feeling about
that issue at the time the referendum is held.
Referenda in the UK-Disadvantages of
referenda
 The question being asked can change the outcome of the same
issue. The question has to be as specific and as unbiased as
possible for it to be truly democratic.
 General Pinochet of Chile gained the support of 75% of the
electorate when asking the question, ‘In the face of
international aggression unleashed against the government
of the fatherland, I support President Pinochet in his defence
of the dignity of Chile’ (funnily enough).
 When deciding social issues, emotions can come in to play
which can produce ultimately unwanted results.
 People might vote ‘for the wrong reasons’ for example, to
express discontent with the government – forgetting that
actually this is a big, long term issue.
 Campaigns can be expensive and so advantageous to wellfunded groups.
Exercise 7 The next referendum
 Is likely to be about whether or not the UK remains in
the European Union. Looking at either the No or Yes side
design what you would put in a three minute election
broadcast.
 Concentrate on imagery and the central message
Exercise 8 The Scottish referendum
 The Scottish referendum on independence was held on
the 18th September 2014. From your memory can you
remember:
 1.
What the result was?
 2.
Three arguments for Yes?
 3.
Three arguments for No?
 4. What you think this referendum tells us about
direct democracy in the UK?