What is the purpose of a referendum?

brianthebard

(obviously this is question has arisen due to the lisbon treaty, but is not about the treaty, so please try not to discuss issues pertaining to it here. tanx)

So in my mind at least a referendum is about putting an issue that affects society as a whole to a ballot by society. The winner should be society. However there is always a lot of talk about winners and losers, political gains or losses, the right or wrong choice. We've heard it all in the aftermath of lisbon, but there are similar questions over say Scottish independance. Alex Salmond has said he will put it to the people at some point, and let them decide. But then he is asked questions about when is the best time to do it for him, does he feel he will win, etc. To his credit he has said it is not for him to win or lose. So anyways, what do people feel is the point of having a referendum? Is it just to include us plebs every now and again in the political process and make us feel good, or is it a bit more noble (for want of a better word) than that?

Opinions please.

Carawaystick

Generally in Ireland, Referenda are used only to amend the constitution.
issues of great importance, affecting society, which do t need the constitution to be amended are usually not put to the people.
Generally the constitution is only amended slowly, and the people have several times rejected proposals to amend the constitution when the majority of the td's in the Dáil are in favor of changing it.

There were 3 (failed) attempts to change the electoral system by FF


there have been about 6 relating to the EEC/EU
5 about abortion (3 on 1 day)
2 on divorce - this referendum was passed by a very narrow margin - about the number of electoral boxes, which meant the last person to vote yes in every polling both made the difference


some non contentious issues were put to the people because of the fact the constituton was to be amended -removig the special authority of the Catholic Church; was backed by Church and state. 84% for

allowing non irish citizens vote in certain elections 75% for.


Abortion is obviously the most contentious issue, the original abortion amendment was to prevent abortion in Ireland. the X case resulted in exactly the opposite, making it legal( well, Constitutional anyway).


So to my mind, a referendum is put to the irish citizens only to change the constitution; usually on issues that are seen as important at the time, but may not affect society as a whole (international criminal court)

There is a provision in the constitution to put a Law to a referendum. this has never been done.

I think there has been a plebicite on the naming of Daingean Uí Cúis - i.e a local issue referendum polling local people about the name of their town

PopeBuckfastXVI

I believe referenda are just for changing the constitution.

As pointed out it doesn't have to be a contentious issue e.g. Banning of Death Penalty.

That was an interesting one aswell as it affected the way Ref Comm operates... it exposed the difficulty in attempting to present 'balanced' pro and anti arguments for each referendum, and so after that Ref Comm was only charged with an accurate explanation of an amendment.

Belfast

brianthebard wrote: »

(obviously this is question has arisen due to the lisbon treaty, but is not about the treaty, so please try not to discuss issues pertaining to it here. tanx)

So in my mind at least a referendum is about putting an issue that affects society as a whole to a ballot by society. The winner should be society. However there is always a lot of talk about winners and losers, political gains or losses, the right or wrong choice. We've heard it all in the aftermath of lisbon, but there are similar questions over say Scottish independance. Alex Salmond has said he will put it to the people at some point, and let them decide. But then he is asked questions about when is the best time to do it for him, does he feel he will win, etc. To his credit he has said it is not for him to win or lose. So anyways, what do people feel is the point of having a referendum? Is it just to include us plebs every now and again in the political process and make us feel good, or is it a bit more noble (for want of a better word) than that?

Opinions please.

Good question.

The reason for referendums in Ireland is the people are sovereign, unlike Britain were Parliament is sovereign.

On the major issues of the day it stops political elites dictating to the people.

Belfast

Carawaystick wrote: »

5 about abortion (3 on 1 day)

The referendum was about giving the right to life to the unborn. Abortion was not mentioned in it.

Carawaystick wrote: »

some non contentious issues were put to the people because of the fact the constituton was to be amended -removig the special authority of the Catholic Church; was backed by Church and state. 84% for

the referendum was about the special position of the Catholic Church. The Constitution did not give any authority to the Catholic Church

De valera added the special position of the Catholic Church
to the 1937 Constitution under pressure form the Catholic Church who wanted to make the Catholic Church the state religion.

Éamon de Valera's "Irish solution to an Irish problem".
it gave them an honourable mention in the Constitution, but no direct power from the Constitution.