In “Popular Constitutional Amendment: Referendums and Constitutional Change in Canada and the United Kingdom,” Stephen Tierney examines the use of referendums as a means of constitutional amendment. He focuses on two case studies: the 1980 and 1995 referendums in Quebec regarding secession from Canada and the 2014 referendum in Scotland regarding independence from the United Kingdom. Tierney argues that referendums can be an effective means of constitutional change, but that their use must be carefully managed to ensure they do not undermine the democratic process. He also highlights the differences in how referendums are used in Canada and the United Kingdom, particularly with regard to the role of the judiciary and the federal government in managing the process.

Reference: Tierney, S. (2015). Popular Constitutional Amendment: Referendums and Constitutional Change in Canada and the United Kingdom. Canadian Journal of Political Science, 48(2), 327-346. doi: 10.1017/S0008423915000349