referendum

   A form of direct democracy in which the electorate is asked to pass judgement in order to resolve a particular policy issue. The only United Kingdom-wide referendum was that held in 1975 to determine whether Britain should remain in the European Community. Other votes have been held in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on issues such as devolution. They have also been increasingly held at the regional and local level. Referendums differ from elections in that the electorate is being asked to vote on a single issue and not about which party should assume political office. They may be advisory or mandatory. In Britain, the outcome of the vote has usually been accepted by those in authority.

   Supporters see them as a useful means of democratic consultation: they strengthen legitimacy by providing the public with an outlet for their views; they promote political participation; and they are useful in settling major constitutional questions or those issues that cut across party lines which ministers find it difficult to handle. Opponents believe that in a representative democracy, it is an abdication of responsibility for ministers to hand a decision back to the voters, many of whom may find the issues too difficult to comprehend. They point out that a vote only provides a snapshot of opinion at a particular time, they distort complex issues, by presenting them in a simple yes/no form, and for resolving social issues they are less appropriate, for there is a danger that the public may be susceptible to emotional media campaigns.

   Further reading: D. Butler, Referendums around the World, Macmillan, 1994