1.1 Current systems of representative democracy and direct democracy

Question 1

democracy

Answer 1

all citizens are equally entitled to participate in the society’s decision about its policies

Question 2

5 key measures of democracy and created them?

Answer 2

On Democracy 1988, Robert A. Dhal uses the following 5:
- participation
- voting equality
- understanding
- agenda setting
- universal

Question 3

participation

Answer 3

before a decision is made, all have an equal and effective opportnity to make their opinions known to other about which decision should be made

Question 4

voting equality

Answer 4

when a decsion is to be made, every member must have an equal and effective opportunity to vote and all votes must be counted as equal

Question 5

understanding

Answer 5

each person must have an equal and effective opportunities for learning about the relevant alternative choices and their likely outcomes

Question 6

agenda setting

Answer 6

each person msut have the opportunity to decide how to set the agenda and what to place on the agenda so that past decisions are always open to be revised

Question 7

universal

Answer 7

all adults should have the same rights. as citizens, that are necessary for participation, voting equality, understanding, and setting the agenda

Question 8

why is democracy of central importance?

Answer 8

provides basis for legiitimacy, the right to rule and so is the key to political stability

Question 9

what does democracy provide those in power with?

Answer 9

provides them with the legitimate right to rule and places an obligation on the people to obey the law in at least three ways (consent,

Question 10

consent

Answer 10

citizens implicitly invest political authority w a ‘right to rule’ each time they participate in the pol process. dem underpins legitimacy by expanding the opps for effect pol participation, through act of voting but also through activities like joing pol party or pressure groups

Question 11

the two types of democracy

Answer 11

1. direct democracy
2. representative democracy

Question 12

direct demoracy (dd)

Answer 12

All individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on their behalf. This type of democracy emerged in Athens in classical times and direct democracy can be seen today in referendums.

Question 13

key features of direct democracy

Answer 13

• popular participation is direct in that the people ‘make’ policy decisions - they do not merely chose who will rule on their behalf
• popular participation is immediate in that people ‘are’ gov - there is no seperate class of professional politicians
• popular participaton is continuous in that people engage in politics pn regular and ongoing basis - all decisions made by the people

Question 14

what is direct democracy associated with and how? COMPLETE

Answer 14

traced back to Ancient Greece, about 500-322 BCE, a form of democracy operated in Athens thats served ever since as a form of ‘classical democracy’. very particular form of dem = different form of dem found in modern world = relies on participation from all citizens in oepn assemblies which made all key decisions

Question 15

representative democracy

Question 16

why is representative democracy dominant in the modern world?

Answer 16

solves the prob inherent in dd, that only a small % of people can/want to spend their time involved in political issues

Question 17

what is representative democracy a way of voters doing what?

Answer 17

a way for voters electing a small group of representatives who work full time on getting informed, debating and voting on political issues on behalf of the people

Question 18

in representative democracy what do people acquire?

Answer 18

acquire the power to make political decsions by means of a competitives struggle for the peoples vote.

Question 19

what does those who win the election claim to do?

Answer 19

those who win the elections claim to ‘represent’ the people and the legitimate right to govern

Question 20

key features of representative democracy

Question 21

what is the basis of representative democracy compared to direct democracy?

Answer 21

dd = basis of popular partcipation
rp operates on basis of popular control - ways of ensuring professional politicians represent the people and not themselves

Question 22

the basic condition for representative democracy is what?

Answer 22

democratic elections

Question 23

what are democratic elections based on? (3)

Answer 23

• freedom, fairness, and regularity = voters can participate freely & express their own views
• universal suffrage = adults can vote & there is voting equality, based on the principle of one person, one vote
• party and candidate competition = voters have a choice & effective opportunities for learning abt the relevant alternative choices and their likely outcomes

Question 24

examples of how the number of opportunites for participation increased with voters?

Answer 24

depending on where voters live, wide range of elections able to vote in:
- elections in scot, wales, ni for the devolved gov since the first elections in in 1998
- elections for the london mayor and greater ldn authority since 2000
- elections for Police Commissioners, who make sure that local police meet the needs of the community since 2012

Question 25

legitimacy COMPLETE

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Franchise/ suffrage

Answer 26

franchise and suffrage are both terms that refer to the right to vote in public elections, such as general election