Final answer:
The requirement for a double majority in a referendum is a measure that acts as a check on parliamentary decisions. It requires broad consensus for significant changes, serving as a public safeguard against rapid or unsupported legislative changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The requirement for a double majority in a referendum acts as a check on parliamentary decisions. This is because it requires a proposal to not only receive a majority of votes overall but also a majority in a significant portion of the constituencies or states.
A referendum is a form of direct democracy that gives citizens the power to confirm or repeal a decision made by the government. In some cases, supermajority voting rules come into play for decisions that are especially important or consequential, such as constitutional amendments. These systems serve as measures to ensure that significant changes reflect a broad consensus rather than a simple majority, thereby providing checks on the legislatures or on rapid changes in law that may not have wide support.
In a bicameral system, the presence of two chambers is inherently a check on parliamentary power because legislation must pass through both chambers. The referendum process, which includes a double majority requirement, acts as an additional layer of scrutiny and public consent, thereby serving as a direct check on decisions made by the parliament. It does not typically impact the day-to-day parliamentary decisions that do not require a referendum, nor does it directly affect the power of the High Court.