1. Democracy and Participation

Question 1

What is direct democracy?

Answer 1

A form of democracy in which all citizens are encouraged to take part in the system and sovereignty is in the hands of the people

Question 2

What is representative democracy?

Answer 2

A form of democracy in which an individual selects a person (or political party) to act on their behalf to exercise political choice

Question 3

Examples of D.D

Answer 3

Referendums

2015 Recall of MPs Act

Question 4

Examples of R.D

Answer 4

General Elections

Elections

Question 5

2015 Recall of MPs Act Example

Answer 5

• Ian Paisley Jr, a suspended Democratic Unionist Party MP, was suspended but narrowly escaped a recall by a by-election. He was suspended from the Houses of Commons in July for 30 days for accepting free holidays from the Sri Lankan Government and failed to disclose. The petition received 9.4% of votes in his constituency when it needed 10% to be recalled. (20th September 2018)

Three MPs in total have been recalled in which only one Ian Paisley retained his position. The other two, Christopher Davies and Fiona were recalled.

Question 6

Advantages of D.D

Answer 6

Purest form 
Avoid delay and gridlock 
Increase in legitimacy of the decisions 
Increase participation and opportunities to participate
Increase public engagement 
Increase political education

Question 7

Disadvantages of D.D

Answer 7

People are not experts and so cannot make informed judgements
Not practical for a large state 
Minority groups may be overlooked 
Less accountability 
Referendum is not legally binding

Question 8

Advantages of R.D

Answer 8

Politicians bring coherence and give people a choice of representation 
Hold MPs to account 
Practical and easy to use
Pressure groups involved 
Prevents tyranny of the majority

Question 9

Disadvantages of R.D

Answer 9

May be corrupt
Burkean Representation
Reduced Participation
Safe seats and a lack of accuracy in translating results

Question 10

What are the functions of democracy?

Answer 10

Representation 
Accountability 
Participation 
Power Dispersal 
Legitimacy 
Education

Question 11

Effective democracy operating

Answer 11

Free and Fair elections 
Turnout 
Universal Suffrage 
Party System 
Pressure Groups 
Parliamentary sovereignty 
Devolution

Question 12

Ineffective democracy operating

Answer 12

Unelected elements
Low Turnout
EVEL
West Lothian Question

Question 13

Problems with FPTP

Answer 13

Wasted votes
Safe Seats 
Unrepresentative 
Winner's bonus
Two-party system

Question 14

Who can vote?

Answer 14

People over age of 18
British Citizens
Those not in prison
Those not mentally incapable

Question 15

What moves are there to extend the franchise?

Answer 15

Prison Voting

16 year-old voting

Question 16

What methods of participation is there?

Answer 16

Voting 
Joining a party 
Joining a pressure group 
Petitions 
Protesting
Striking

Question 17

What is the consequence of a low turnout?

Answer 17

Decreased mandate

Reduce legitimacy

Question 18

What are the more modern forms of participation?

Answer 18

E-petitions
Blogging
Social Media

Question 19

Yes there is a participation crisis

Answer 19

Turnout is very low across general elections and referendums

Party membership has declined

Trade Union power has decreased

Question 20

No there is not a participation crisis

Answer 20

Increasing turnout across general elections

More parties in voter choice

Pressure group membership has increased

Social campaigns

Question 21

Types of pressure groups

Answer 21

Sectional Groups
Casual Groups
Insider Groups
Outsider Groups

Question 22

What type of methods to Pressure Groups use?

Answer 22

Lobbying 
Research and publish reports
Give evidence at hearings
Publicity Campaigns 
Civili Disobedience 
Celebrity disobedience 
Strike

Question 23

Why do people join pressure groups?

Answer 23

Motivation 
Representation 
Personal Beliefs
Participation 
Material Benefits
Need

Question 24

Why do pressure groups succeed or fail?

Answer 24

Funding
Membership
Status of Pressure Group
Goal contradicting government policy

Question 25

Think Tanks

Answer 25

Formed with the specific purpose of formulating and developing policy ideas.
Offer an alternative based on focused and academic research rather than ideals

Question 26

Lobbyists

Answer 26

Process of meeting key political figures and trying to persuade them to support certain aims

Question 27

Corporations

Answer 27

Often work closely with the Government in order to develop practical legislation

Question 28

What are human rights?

Answer 28

Human rights are those rights and liberties that all people are automatically entitled to with no discrimination at all.
Absolute
Universal
Fundamental

Question 29

1998 Human Rights Act

Answer 29

incorporated many of the provisions of the ECHR

Effectively codified into statute law

Question 30

What are positive rights?

Answer 30

Clearly given to a citizen, usually in the form of constitutional protection

Question 31

What are negative rights?

Answer 31

Not explicitly set out and only exist because of an absence of any law banning them

Question 32

Where has there been conflicts between the judiciary and government over protecting rights?

Answer 32

Anti-terrorism 
Deportation 
Detention 
Free speech and the right to protest 
Anti-social behaviour

Question 33

Judiciary is best placed to defend the rights of citizens

Answer 33

Judges exercise the rule of law
Judicial Review
Judiciary is independent
Judges are neutral and can protect rights without discrimination

Question 34

Judiciary is NOT best placed to defend the rights of citizens

Answer 34

Judges are undemocratic and unaccountable
Senior judges work with Parliament
Lack of a codified constitution means judges cannot strike down legislation
Judges are unrepresentative

Question 35

Parliament is best placed to defend the rights of citizens

Answer 35

Parliament is sovereign 
More representative of the people 
Parliament has introduced and passed all Acts relating to human rights
MPs represent constituents 
Parliament is democratically elected

Question 36

Parliament is NOT best placed to defend the rights of citizens

Answer 36

Short-term political considerations may be more important
Parliament can suspend HRA
Parliament is usually dominated by the governing party
Role of HOL undermines democratic Parliament
MPs may be reluctant to champion the cause of HR if it benefits an unpopular element

Question 37

Pressure Groups and rights

Answer 37

Many groups defend rights such as Amnesty International, Liberty and Witness

Question 38

What could be done to improve democracy in the UK?

Answer 38

Compulsory voting 
Reform of the voting system 
Reform of the House of lords
Greater recall of MPs
Reform of the House of Commons 
Codification
E-democracy