Constitution Committee - Twelfth Report
Referendums in the United Kingdom

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Here you can browse the report which was ordered by the House of Lords to be printed 17 March 2010.

CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

Chapter 1: Introduction

Background

Box 1: UK experience of national and regional referendums since 1973

The current context

Our report

Chapter 2: Referendums—Arguments for and against

Claimed positive features of referendums

That referendums enhance the democratic process

That referendums can be a "weapon of entrenchment"

That referendums can "settle" an issue

That referendums can be a "protective device"

That referendums enhance citizen engagement

That referendums promote voter education

That voters are able to make reasoned judgments

That referendums are popular with voters

That referendums complement representative democracy

Claimed negative features of referendums

That referendums are a tactical device

That referendums are dominated by elite groups

That referendums can have a damaging effect on minority groups

That referendums are a conservative device

That referendums do not "settle" an issue

That referendums fail to deal with complex issues

That referendums tend not to be about the issue in question

That voters show little desire to participate in referendums

That referendums are costly

That referendums undermine representative democracy

Conclusion

Chapter 3: Referendums on constitutional issues

Part One: Should referendums be held on constitutional issues?

A matter of debate?

Referendums relating to the European Union

Further devolution

The Human Rights Act 1998

The UK's experience: Constitutional precedents or political inconsistency?

Conclusion

Part Two: Mechanisms for triggering a constitutional referendum

A written constitution?

A statutory safeguard?

A parliamentary mechanism?

Chapter 4: Other uses of referendums

Part One: Citizens' initiatives

Part Two: Local referendums

Chapter 5: The referendum campaign: practical issues  

Box 2: Main provisions of the PPERA and the main responsibilities of the Electoral Commission

Timing of a referendum

Wording of the question

Information and the media

Funding and campaigning organisations

Box 3: Requirements of the PPERA relating to funding of campaign organisations and Electoral Commission's role in designation

The role of the Government and political parties

Thresholds

Advisory or binding referendums?

Overall summary of regulatory framework and the role of the Electoral Commission

Chapter 6: Conclusion

Chapter 7: Summary of Recommendations

Appendix 1: Select Committee on the Constitution

Appendix 2: List of Witnesses

Appendix 3: International experience of referendums

Oral Evidence

Oral Evidence, 6 January 2010

Oral Evidence, 13 January 2010

Oral Evidence, 20 January 2010

Oral Evidence, 27 January 2010

Oral Evidence, 3 February 2010

Oral Evidence, 10 February 2010

Written Evidence

NOTE: References in the text of the report are as follows:

(Q) refers to a question in oral evidence

(p) refers to a page of written evidence

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