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Politics - Unit 1 - UK POLITICS > 1.1 Current Systems Of Democracy In The UK > Flashcards

1.1 Current Systems Of Democracy In The UK Flashcards

1
Q

What gives a government power and authority?

A

The monarchy, the laws they set, the people’s acceptance of their laws, the fact they are voted into power by the people

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2
Q

What is direct democracy?

A

All individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on their behalf

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3
Q

What are the advantages of direct democracy?

A
  • Equal voter weighting
  • People take personal responsibility for their decisions
  • Develops a sense of community
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4
Q

What are the disadvantages of direct democracy?

A
  • Impractical in a large modern society
  • Many people are not qualified enough to take part
  • Minority viewpoints are disregarded (could lead to tyranny of the majority)
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5
Q

What is representative democracy?

A

The people elect representatives to take control of decision making, as the politicians in charge are (theoretically) more informed than the average person.

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6
Q

What are the advantages of representative democracy?

A
  • Far more practical in a large society
  • Parties are formed (pluralist democracy)
  • Reduces chances of tyranny of the majority
  • Politicians are (often) better informed than the average person
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7
Q

What is pluralist democracy?

A

Taking into account different viewpoints from multiple parts of society.

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8
Q

What are the disadvantages of representative democracy?

A
  • Can lead to reduced political participation
  • Parties are run and funded by elites who push their own agenda
  • Politicians can easily dodge accountability for their actions
  • Politicians may be corrupt
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9
Q

What is popular sovereignty?

A

Power of parliament must be exercised in accordance with the general will of the people.

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10
Q

What is parliamentary sovereignty?

A

Allows parliament to pass and end any law it so chooses.

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11
Q

What type of sovereignty does the UK fall under?

A

Popular and Parliamentary, as one cannot exist without the other.

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12
Q

What is democratic participation?

A

The opportunity to be involved in a political process, be it by voting, pressure groups, writing to MP’s etc.
At the highest level it implies standing for public office.

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13
Q

What is the disconnect between parliament and the people?

A

In most cases, parliament make laws according to the people’s consent in General Elections, however they can pass any law they want, so the power does mostly lie within parliament.

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14
Q

What is the average turnout in General Elections?

A

60%-65%

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15
Q

What is the average turnout in Local elections?

A

30%-35%

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16
Q

How often are elections to the HOC?

A

At least every 5 years

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17
Q

How are the HOL elected?

A

By appointment from the Monarch, in accordance with recommendations from government.

18
Q

Outline a similarity of representative and direct democracy

A

Based on a majority

19
Q

Outline three differences of direct and representative democracy

A
  • Direct is not elective
  • Direct is for individuals
  • Direct has more citizen involvement
20
Q

Define legitimacy

A

The right to exercise power

21
Q

Define democratic deficit

A

A deficiency in the way a democratic body works

22
Q

Negatives of the UK’s democracy

A
  • Under representation of minorities
  • Can not vote for the lords
  • Does not protect rights
  • Press is owned by millionaires
23
Q

Positives of UK’s democracy

A
  • Fair and free elections
  • Free from intimidation
  • Wide choice of parties
  • Press freedom
  • Independent judiciary
24
Q

Examples of declining participation

A
  • 2001 turnout was lowest since WWII (59.4%)
  • Conservative party has lost members (124,000 members in 2018)
25
Q

Examples of rising participation

A
  • Labour biggest party in Europe (552,000 members)
  • Turnout rising (68.6% 2017)
  • E-democracy
26
Q

What is democracy?

A

The belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves

27
Q

Where does democracy originate?

A

The word ‘democracy’ has its origins in the Greek language. It combines two shorter word: ‘demos’ meaning while citizen living within a particular city-state and ‘kratos’ meaning power or rule

28
Q

Define Universal Suffrage

A

The right for all adults to vote (however adulthood is defined)

29
Q

Define Political Participation

A

This involvement of citizens in politics through voting, membership of a political party or the activities of pressure groups to shape policy making

30
Q

Define Consent

A

Permission; in politics, usually implies an agreement to be ruled or governed

31
Q

Define Legitimacy

A

The rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely-held agreements, such as a government’s right to rule following an election or a monarch’s succession based on the agreed rules

32
Q

Key features of direct democracy

A
  • Popular Participation implies people ‘MAKE’ policy decisions; they do mot merely choose who will rules on their behalf
  • Popular Participation is IMMEDIATE in that the people ‘are’ of the government; there is no separate class of professional politicians
  • Popular Participation is CONTINUOUS in that people engage in politics on a regular and on-going basis - all decisions are made by the people
33
Q

Give examples of countries that use representative democracy

A

UK, France, India, Brazil, USA

34
Q

Key features of representative democracy

A
  • Popular participation is INDIRECT: the public do not exercise power themselves; they choose (usually by election) who will rule on their behalf
  • Popular participation is MEDIATED: the people are linked to government through representative institutions
  • Popular participation in government is LIMITED: it is infrequent and brief, being restricted to the act of voting every few years
35
Q

Rules of democracy

A
  • Freedom, fairness and regularity
  • Universal suffrage
  • Party and candidate competition
36
Q

Outline 4 different forms of political participation

A
  • Protest and demonstrations
  • Trade Union membership
  • Voting in elections
  • Pressure/interest groups
37
Q

How does voter turnout highlight a participation crisis?

A

Between 1945 and 1992, the average voter turnout was above 75%.
In 2017, voter turnout was 69% and in 2019 it was 67%.

38
Q

Give an instance where Direct Democracy can be used in a representative system

A
  • Referendums
  • Recall of MPs Act 2015
39
Q

Outline some reasons for democratic reform in the UK

A
  • democratic deficit, referring to the problems with representation
  • low voter turnout
  • FPTP creates a two party system
  • house of lords is un-elected
  • EU - UK has lost some sovereignty
40
Q

Outline different types of electoral reform

A
  • online voting
  • lower the voting age
  • electoral reform - changing the voting system
  • compulsory voting
  • house of lords reform

Politics - Unit 1 - UK POLITICS (17 decks)

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