| A referendum is undemocratic. I hear you say, | | | | manifesto published at the time of a general |
| no, surely you have that the wrong way round? | | | | election. The electorate also has to accept that |
| Surely a referendum is democratic, isn't it? | | | | there may be policy decisions that the |
| Everybody gets a chance to vote on an issue. So | | | | government has to make about unforeseen |
| that's about as democratic as could possibly be? | | | | events. The government has to accept in its turn |
| No, you read it right. A referendum is NOT | | | | that if the public do not agree with their decisions, |
| democratic. | | | | they will lose the next election. But governments |
| The focus of this article is on the European Union | | | | are elected for a term of office, and during that |
| (EU) but I would suppose the conclusion reached | | | | term they represent the people, so they should |
| is probably applicable to all countries. Anyway, in | | | | be free to implement whatever policies they see |
| the EU it has been found that there is an | | | | fit. |
| increasing tendency for member states to turn to | | | | This is the main reason why a referendum is not |
| the referendum to give legitimacy to their policy | | | | a democratic instrument. It interferes with the |
| decisions. | | | | constitutional democratic process outlined above. |
| Democracy is primarily about the constitution of a | | | | A general election is fought on a broad range of |
| nation. In a democratic constitution, there are | | | | policy issues. It is possible for the electorate to |
| government institutions and executives. The | | | | see the proportional importance of each one, and |
| people have a right to elect representatives to | | | | to see it in context. In a referendum, the debate |
| these institutions, and if necessary, to dismiss | | | | is at the mercy of narrow interest groups and |
| those representatives, according to a due | | | | pressure groups, who often target a strong |
| process. This due process is itself part of the | | | | campaign in order to exert an undue influence on |
| constitution of the country. | | | | voters. |
| Constitutional or policy changes can be made, but | | | | In this way, a referendum, more often than not, |
| this is properly done by the party that seeks | | | | actually upsets the democratic process. |
| power making these known to the electorate in a | | | | |