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Politics > 1 Democracy and Participation > Flashcards

1 Democracy and Participation Flashcards

1
Q

Features of direct democracy

A

people engaged directly in political decision-making

decisions made on specific issues

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2
Q

Use of direct democracy

A

referendums

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3
Q

Example of direct democracy

A

2016 Brexit Referendum
vote on whether the UK should leave the EU
72% turnout
52% voted leave
48% voted stay

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4
Q

Features of direct democracy

A

people vote for someone to make decisions on their behalf

representatives elected by smaller sections of society e.g. constituencies

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5
Q

Use of representative democracy

A

MPs are elected to serve in Parliament
Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish representatives elected to serve devolved bodies
local councillors elected to local councils

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6
Q

Example of representative democracy

A

2019 General Election
people voted for a party to lead for 5 years based on manifestos
67% turnout
43.6% voted Conservative
32.1% voted Labour
11.6% voted Lib Dem

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7
Q

Similarities between direct and representative democracy

A

engage the population in political decision-making and encourage political education

recognise people as the source of political power requiring the consent of the voters for legitimacy

try to balance competing interests within a country

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8
Q

Advantages of direct democracy

A

everyone is able to have their voice directly heard - the purest form of democracy

encourages engagement of citizens and political education

decisions have great legitimacy

can solve controversial issues e.g. issues dividing parties or society

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9
Q

Disadvantages of direct democracy

A

in large countries, it is difficult to use frequently given the number of decisions that need to be made

removes accountability for decisions made by politicians

tyranny of the majority, the minority are unlikely to have their voices heard

can be on highly complex issues, citizens may not have the time or education to make an informed decision

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10
Q

Advantages of representative democracy

A

electing representatives works on a large scale

elections allow representatives to be held accountable for decisions, poor ones can be removed

avoid tyranny of the majority, allows minority representation

representatives have the time and responsibility to understand complex topics

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11
Q

Disadvantages of representative democracy

A

impossible for the representative to make every voice in their constituency heard

encourages political apathy - people believing politics is only for the elected few

decisions lack legitimacy as they can be made by representatives elected years ago in a completely different situation

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12
Q

Liberal democracy

A

free, fair, frequent elections
free media without censorship
tolerance of views
protection of the rights of citizens
government power limited

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13
Q

Pluralist democracy

A

tolerance of a wide range of views
many centres of political power
competing parties between which power changes hands

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14
Q

Elitist democracy

A

power concentrated in the hands of the few
political decision making dominated by small number of people - usually wealthy or well-educated

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15
Q

1832 Reform Act

A

gave the vote to middle-class men

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16
Q

1867 Reform Act

A

gave the vote to working-class men

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17
Q

1918 Representation of the People Act

A

gave the vote to all men over 21 and many women over 30

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18
Q

1928 Representation of the People Act

A

gave the vote to all men and women over 21

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19
Q

1969 Representation of the People Act

A

lowered voting age from 21 to 18

20
Q

Who cannot vote?

A

under 18 year olds
prisoners
members of the House of Lords

21
Q

How can people participate in democracy?

A

vote - local or general elections

stand in election - 18, British citizen, £500 deposit

join a political party
join a pressure group or political movement - social media allows involvement in movements like Black Lives Matter

sign an e-petition - 10,000+ signatures means a response from government, 100,000+ signatures may be debated

22
Q

Why there is a participation crisis in the UK

A

turnout is low - 2010-2019 had turnouts of 65-69% (1/3 of the population not voting)

only 50% of 18-25 year olds have voted in the last 3 general elections

turnouts in local elections is even lower - 15.1% in the 2012 Police and Crime Commissioner elections

political parties have a total membership of less than 1 million (population of 70 million)

lack of impact of petitions has undermined this method - 2019 a petition to cancel Brexit got 6 million signatures

23
Q

Why there is not a participation crisis in the UK

A

turnout in recent elections has been higher than previous 2000s elections

recent election results have been closer (2010 coalition), this can increase turnout

calls for 2nd referendums on Scottish independence and Brexit - public’s demand to be involved in democracy

e-petitions e.g. change.org have seen huge participation, 2015 to 2019 Parliament run e-petitions gains nearly 23 million unique signatures

increase in Labour Party membership - up to over 500,000 from only 200,000 in 2014

24
Q

Sectional pressure groups

A

represents a relatively narrow section of society, often on a number of issues

e.g. trade unions represent specific industries

25
Q

Causal pressure groups

A

represents a wide cross-section of society but often on a single issue

e.g. Liberty is a group defending rights in the UK that anyone is welcome to join

26
Q

Insider pressure groups

A

have some link to the government giving them the ability to influence government directly, due to being policy experts or having ideology that aligns with the government

e.g. both Johnson and Starmer have given speeches at the CBI’s annual conference

27
Q

Outsider pressure groups

A

do not have any links to the government, seek alternative methods to gain influence like engaging in public demonstrations

e.g. Just Stop Oil protested by gluing themselves to the M25

28
Q

Features of think tanks

A

groups of experts that carry out research into public policy they hope will influence government policy

often have a specific political view their research aims to progress

29
Q

Example of a think tank

A

The Institute for Fiscal Studies

May 2022 they warned the government more would need to be done to help people with energy bills

30
Q

Concerns over think tanks

A

close ties to government could give them undue influence

development of policy through think tanks has removed the function of parties doing this

31
Q

Features of lobbyists

A

an individual or organisation that can be hired for their political expertise or their connections to policy makers

often they have previously worked with the government

32
Q

Example of a lobbyist

A

The Hanbury Strategy Group

late 2022 this groups set up a unit that would help clients ‘engage with the Opposition and prepare for the prospect of a Labour government

33
Q

Concerns over lobbyists

A

close links with government raises concerns over elite/ wealthy groups being able to ‘buy’ influence with the government

scandals involving lobbying have undermined government credibility - cash for questions

34
Q

Direct action

A

includes protests and advertising in order to raise public awareness of an issue

Greenpeace protestors interrupted Truss’s Conference speech October 2022

35
Q

Legal action

A

challenge government policy in the courts

Reclaim the Streets won a case against the Metropolitan Police for their actions at the vigil for Sarah Everard

36
Q

Mobilising the public

A

use of mass demonstrations, social media or petitions to show a lot of voters care about an issue to gain influence

petition by Marcus Rashford gained over 1 million signatures to expand the free school meals programme

37
Q

Political action

A

work alongside politicians or pay lobbyists to directly influence policy, or donate to parties

The National Farmers Union has submitted a number of responses to government plans regarding badger culling

38
Q

Factors that effect pressure group success

A

methods - government cannot be seen helping groups that break the law

status - insider groups will find it easier to influence

government in power - a government with similar ideology is more likely to listen

wealth - affording lobbyists or advertising helps

extent of support - government more likely to listen if it represents a large number of voters

39
Q

Where are rights protected in the UK?

A

Magna Carta 1215 - first outlined that no one should be imprisoned unlawfully

Human Rights Act 1998 - enshrined the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law including the right to education, freedom of expression and freedom from torture

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - allowed the public to request information from public authorities to ensure government transparency

Equality Act 2010 - protects people against discrimination based on a number of protected characteristics including age, sex, race and disability

40
Q

How are rights protected in the UK?

A

the judiciary
UK parliament
devolved parliaments
pressure groups
the ECtHR (European Court of Human Rights)

41
Q

UK democracy is healthy

A

creation of the UK Supreme Court from 2005 added a body that could challenge the government

increasing devolution has spread power throughout the UK

referendums have become an increasing and accepted feature of UK democracy

elections are free and fair, there is universal suffrage

42
Q

UK democracy is not healthy

A

the Supreme Court can be ignored by UK government as Parliament is sovereign

Parliament has passed laws that restrict the rights of citizens, e.g. the right to strike and the right to protest

FPTP undermines voter choice as minor parties are unlikely to win

referendums are only called when the government wishes

43
Q

Arguments for votes at 16

A

16 year olds have significant responsibilities - consent, marriage, join the army, tax and NI

young people have shown political activism

2014 Scottish referendum showed huge engagement - 75% voted

can vote in Wales and Scotland - encourages taking on duties younger

policies will impact them the most - e.g. Sunak National Service policy

44
Q

Arguments against votes at 16

A

some responsibilities still require parental permission

not mature enough to buy alcohol and cigarettes

most 16-17 year olds in full time education - unlikely to pay tax

18-24 voting turnout is the lowest - damages democracy

few adult experiences - swayed by social media or peer pressure

45
Q
A

Politics (6 decks)

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