1. Democracy and Participation Flashcards
What is Direct Democracy?
A system in which individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on their behalf. An example of direct democracy.
What are the advantages of Direct Democracy?
Gives equal weight to all votes, unlike a representative system where the varying sizes of constituencies mean that votes do not all have equal value.
It encourages popular participation in politics by expecting people to take their duties as citizens seriously. The Brexit referendum had a turnout of roughly 75%.
It removes the need for trusted representatives, as people can take responsibility for their own decisions.
Develops a sense of community and encourages genuine debate.
What are the disadvantages of Direct Democracy?
Impractical in a large, heavily populated modern state where decision-making is complicated.
Many people will not want to - or feel qualified to - take part in decision-making, so political activists decide what happens.
Open to manipulation by the cleverest and most articulate speaker, who will persuade people to support their viewpoint.
The will of the majority is not mediated by parliamentary institutions, so minority viewpoints are disregarded.
What is Representative Democracy?
What is Representative Democracy?
What are the advantages of Representative Democracy?
The only practical system in a large modern state, where issues are complex and often need rapid response (e.g. deployment of troops).
Politicians form parties, bringing coherence and giving people a real choice of representative.
It reduces chances of minority rights being overridden by ‘tyranny of the majority’.
Elections allow people to hold representatives to account.
Politicians are (in theory) better informed than the average citizen about the many issues on which they must take a view.
What are the disadvantages of Representative Democracy?
May lead to reduced participation as people choose to hand responsibility to politicians. The 2024 election had a low turnout of 59.4%.
Parties and pressure groups are often run by elites pursuing their own agendas, not truly representing the people.
Minorities may still find themselves underrepresented as politicians are more likely to follow the views of the majority to secure election.
Politicians are skillful in avoiding accountability, especially as general elections are five years apart in the UK.
Politicians may be corrupt and incompetent, may betray election promises or put loyalty to their party before responsibility to the electorate.
Name three other types of democracy.
Electronic petitions - e.g. one started by Marcus Rashford during lockdown aiming to end child poverty.
Election of leadership of political parties - e.g. Liz Truss won by 57% to 43% over Sunak.
Recall of MPs act - An MP imprisoned or suspended can be recalled if 10% of the constituency sign a petition - e.g. Chris Davies in 2019.
Define Pluralist Democracy.
A type of democracy in which a government makes decisions as a result of the interplay of various ideas and contrasting arguments from competing groups and organisations.
What Positive Democratic Feature does the UK Have?
Free media that challenges government policy and exposes the misdeeds of politicians.
Independent judiciary that upholds the rule of law and protects a wide range of personal freedom.
Devolved governments for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and elected majors for London and other English cities.
Free and fair elections.
Wide range of political parties and pressure groups to which people may belong.
What are some arguments that suggest the UK isn’t democratic?
Underrepresentation of minority viewpoints due to the voting system (First Past The Post).
House of Lords lacks democratic legitimacy. The House of Lords is wholly unelected.
Lack of protection for citizens’ rights. Governments can ‘derogate from’ (suspend) articles of the Human Rights Act in certain situations.
Control of sections of the media by wealthy, unaccountable business interests such as Rupert Murdoch.
Define legitimacy.
The legal right to exercise power (for example, a government’s right to rule following an election).
Define Democratic Deficit.
A perceived deficiency in the way a particular democratic body works, especially in terms of accountability and control over policy-making.
Define Participation Crisis.
A lack of engagement with the political system, for example where a large number of people choose not to vote, join a political party or stand for office, damaging the legitimacy of an elected party.
Is there proof of a participation crisis?
Only 1.6% of the electorate now belongs to one of the three main UK-wide parties, whereas in 1983 the figure was 3.8%.
General election turnout hasn’t been above 70% since 1997 and was only 59.4% in 2024.
There was only a 24% turnout for the Liverpool Mayoral election.
Membership of pressure groups has declined - there were 13mn members of trade unions in 1979 but there were only 6.25mn in 2022.
Is there any proof we don’t have a participation crisis?
Overall, turnout increased between 2001 and 2019.
The membership of parties is slowly recovering.
Partisan dealignment is actually a good thing since it makes people’s voting decisions more flexible.
Some pressure groups are on the rise.
What should be done to reform the system? (Participation Crisis)
Allowing people to vote anywhere in their constituency, rather than insisting on attendance at a particular polling station.
Allowing voting to take place over several days.
Reducing the age from 18 to 16.
Encourage wider use of postal-voting and to allow electronic voting or ‘e-voting’.
Make voting compulsory.
What are arguments in favour of making voting compulsory?
Voting is a social duty as well as a right, people should be engaged in the processes that affect their lives.
It would produce a Parliament that is more representative of the population as a whole.
Politicians would have to run better quality campaigns, and governments would have to frame their policies with the whole electorate in mind.
What are arguments for keeping voting voluntary?
In a preferential voting system, where voter number candidate in order, compulsory voting might lead to participants simply placing candidates in rank order.
It is undemocratic to force people to take part in something that should be a matter of choice.
It would not stop politicians focusing their campaigning on marginal seats, and neglecting safe seats where the outcome is predictable.
Compulsory voting does not address the deeper reasons why people decide not to vote.
What are broader reforms of the UK democratic system that could be considered?
Changing the electoral system for Westminster to one based on proportional representation.
Further reform of Parliament, to make its processes more democratic and transparent.
The transfer of more government powers and functions to local bodies (devolution).
What does suffrage mean?
The suffrage (also known as the franchise) is the ability or right to vote in public elections.
Who are excluded from taking part in parliamentary elections?
People under 18.
EU citizens (apart from those from the Irish Republic), although they can vote in local elections.
Members of the House of Lords.
Prisoners.
Those convicted of a corrupt or illegal electoral practice, who are barred for five years.
People who are compulsorily detained in a psychiatric hospital.
Why should the franchise be extended?
It would boost participation (e.g. in Soctland in 2014, 75% of those aged 16-17 voted in the referendum).
Young people want to engage at 16 (97% of those 16-17 year olds said they would vote again).
Young people are affected by the decisions politicians make.
The ECHR says prisoners should be allowed to vote. (Hurst v UK (2005) showed it was a violation of ECHR)
Stripping prisoners of their rights is undemocratic.
Why shouldn’t the franchise be extended?
Young people have a lack of education surrounding politics.
Young people are still developing their political views.
Young people are less likely to vote so turnout would go down.
Scottish Independence referendum in 2014 - 75% of 16-17 year olds voted was lower than the overall 85%.
Prisoners are temporarily stripped of citizenship.
There is not much support for the cause.
How democratic is the UK: Free Elections?
Positives: All over 18 can vote. There is little electoral fraud and there exists strong legal safeguards.
Negatives: The House of Lords is entirely unelected, nor is the head of state: the monarch.
