1. democracy Flashcards
legitimacy
the acceptance of the government by the people
direct democracy
when people vote on decisions directly
representative democracy
when people vote for someone to make decisions for them
pluralist democracy
no single group dominates
democratic deficit
the lack of democracy in political institutions and procedures compared to the ideal mode;
participation crisis
when there is a low turnout so only a small number of people make decisions
think tanks
public policy research organisations that seek influence to government policy
lobbyists
when individuals, businesses, trade unions, groups and charities try to get the government to change its policies
pros of direct democracy
- easier to organise with technology
- equal weight is given to all votes
- encourages popular voting
- foster a sense of community
cons of direct democracy
- exposes divided society
- someone always looses
- undermines representative democracy
- lack of accountability
- decisions complex for ordinary voters
pros representative democracy
- someone can be held accountable
- better for complex issues
- encourages pluralist democracy
- protects minority rights
- trains future leaders of the country
cons of representative democracy
- not all votes hold equal votes
- MPs carry out their own agenda
- reduce participation
- does not always represent constituents wishes
levels of representation in the UK
national government
developed government
metropolitan government
combined authorities
local councils
parish or town councils
turnout in 2001 GE
59.4%
conservative membership now
sub 200,000
who was the first female MP to take her?
1919 Nancy Astor
what were the aims of the WSPU?
to obtain the women’s right to vote
what tactics did the WSPU use?
held protests in order to make a spectacle and be controversial. Disrupted Parliament, hunger strikes, dramatic protests, burning churches, smashing windows
what were the arguments against votes for women?
believed to be unnatural and unfeminine to vote. There was a fear if women got the right to vote they would stop getting married and having children
when was the votes for 16 campaign introduced?
2001
in 2020 how many registered supporters did the votes for 16 campaign have?
4290
arguments for 16 year old voters:
- due to the spread of citizenship education, younger people are more engaged in politics then they have ever been before
- the turnout among 18-24 year olds are very low, lowering the vote may encourage engagement
- the internet and social media enables young people to stay up to date with politics
- 16 year olds can join the army and move out yet they still can’t vote in elections
- the radicalism of the young could act as a useful balance to the extreme conservatism of elderly voters
