1.1 Current systems of representatives and direct democracy. Flashcards
What does democracy mean?
Democracy means ‘rule by the people,’ where citizens have a say in political decisions.
What is direct democracy?
A form of democracy where individuals express their opinions directly, without representatives, such as in referendums.
What are some advantages of direct democracy?
- Gives equal weight to all votes.
- Encourages public participation.
- Removes the need for representatives.
- Promotes community engagement and debate.
What are some disadvantages of direct democracy?
- Can be manipulated by persuasive speakers.
- Impractical in large, complex states.
- Many people lack interest or expertise in political decision-making.
What are referendums, give an example and mention the advantages and disadvantages of it.
Referendums allow the public to vote directly on single issues. For example:
- 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum: 55.3% voted to remain in the UK.
- 2016 EU Referendum: 52% voted to leave, 48% to remain.
Advantage: Gives legitimacy to decisions.
Disadvantage: Public may lack detailed understanding of complex issues.
What are electronic petitions, give an example and mention the advantages and disadvantages of it.
Online petitions that, if they reach 100,000 signatures, are considered for parliamentary debate.Example:
- In 2020, Marcus Rashford’s #EndChildFoodPoverty petition gained 1.1M signatures, pressuring the government into providing free school meals during holidays.
Advantage:
- Enables broad participation at any time.
Disadvantages:
- Digital exclusion prevents some from participating.
- Risk of fraudulent signatories.
What are consultative exercises, give an example and mention the advantages and disadvantages of it.
Methods for gathering public input on policies before making decisions, such as community meetings and surveys.
• Example: A local government consults residents before building a park.
Advantage: Engages the public on relevant issues.
Disadvantage: The most disadvantaged groups are often the least engaged.
What are Election of party leaders, give an example and mention the advantages and disadvantages of it.
Party members elect their leaders, influencing national leadership. Example:
- Liz Truss won the 2022 Conservative leadership race against Rishi Sunak (57% vs. 43%).
- Keir Starmer became Labour leader in 2020 with 56% of the vote.
Advantage: Ensures accountability within parties.
Disadvantage: Gives disproportionate power to party activists, e.g., Labour members re-elected Jeremy Corbyn despite MPs’ no-confidence vote.
What is the Recall Of MPS act (2015), give an example and mention the advantages and disadvantages of it.
Allows constituents to trigger a by-election if an MP commits serious misconduct, requiring 10% of voters to sign a recall petition. Example:
- Fiona Onasanya (2019) was recalled after a prison sentence.
Advantage: Holds MPs accountable for wrongdoing.
Disadvantage: It doesn’t have much impact because the rules make it hard to use.
What is representative democracy?
A system where people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. If voters are dissatisfied, they can remove representatives in elections.
What are the benefits of representative democracy?
✔️ Practical for large, complex modern states.
✔️ Elections allow voters to hold politicians accountable.
✔️ Politicians are better informed on policy matters than the average citizen.
What are the downsides of representative democracy?
❌ Can lead to lower political participation as people rely on politicians.
❌ Political parties may be controlled by elites, not the people.
❌ Elections only happen every five years, so accountability is limited.
❌ Politicians may break election promises or prioritize party loyalty.
What was Russian anarchist Mikhail Bakunin’s view on representative democracy?
He believed it was a false democracy, where power remained in the hands of a small, elite group that exploited the people.
What did Edmund Burke believe about how MPs should represent voters?
MPs should use their own judgment, not just follow public opinion. They are elected to make informed decisions for the good of the country, not just to reflect popular demands.
What features make the UK democratic?
✔️ Free and fair elections – Citizens can vote in elections and referendums.
✔️ Independent judiciary – Courts uphold the rule of law and protect freedoms.
✔️ Free media – Holds politicians accountable.
✔️ Multiple political parties & pressure groups – People have a variety of choices.
✔️ Devolved governments – Some powers are given to local governments, such as Scotland’s parliament in Edinburgh.
What makes the UK less democratic?
❌ Voting system underrepresents minorities – First Past the Post (FPTP) distorts election results.
❌ House of Lords is unelected – Unlike the House of Commons, Lords are appointed, not elected.
❌ Media controlled by the wealthy – Some media outlets are owned by unaccountable business elites.
Why is the House of Lords seen as unrepresentative?
Members are appointed, not elected, making it less democratic than the House of Commons.
How does First Past the Post (FPTP) make elections unrepresentative?
- A party can win many seats with only a small percentage of the vote.
- Smaller parties struggle to gain fair representation.
Why is Parliament criticized for lacking diversity?
- Many MPs come from middle-class backgrounds.
- 19% attended Oxford or Cambridge, meaning MPs may not fully understand the struggles of ordinary citizens.
How are marginalized groups underrepresented in UK politics?
- Poorer people are less likely to vote.
- In 2018, only 2% of homeless people were registered to vote.
What is pluralism?
A democracy where multiple groups influence government decisions, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered.
What is a democratic deficit?
When people feel the government doesn’t listen to them or represent their interests properly.
What is purdah?
A period before an election when the government avoids making major decisions to prevent influencing voters.
How democratic are UK elections?
✔️ Many elections take place, including national and local elections.
❌ The voting system is unfair, and parties find ways to bypass spending rules.
How does voter turnout impact democracy?
✔️ Turnout has improved since the 59% low in 2001.
✔️ Referendums have had high participation.
❌ General election turnout is often only around two-thirds, questioning legitimacy.
Who can and cannot vote in the UK?
✔️ All adults over 18 can vote unless they are prisoners, mentally incapable, or peers in the House of Lords.
❌ 16- and 17-year-olds cannot vote in general elections.
❌ Prisoners and the homeless are excluded.
How does the UK party system affect democracy?
✔️ Many parties compete in elections.
❌ Safe seats mean some areas lack real choice.
❌ The electoral system disadvantages smaller parties.
What role do pressure groups play in democracy?
✔️ There are thousands of pressure groups raising awareness on various issues.
✔️ They help shape government policies.
❌ Wealthy pressure groups have more influence, drowning out smaller voices.
How does Parliament’s power impact democracy?
✔️ Parliament has the final say on laws and holds the government accountable.
❌ A government with a large majority can become an “elective dictatorship” – meaning it has so much power that it can act without real opposition.
How does devolution improve representation?
✔️ Local governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland can make decisions for their areas.
❌ Westminster still holds ultimate power, and England lacks its own devolved parliament.
What does voter turnout measure?
Voter turnout measures the percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.
Why is low voter turnout concerning for democracy?
Low turnout weakens the government’s mandate, meaning it has less legitimacy and public support.
How has voter turnout changed over time in UK general elections?
✔️ 1945-1997: Average turnout was 76%.
❌ 2001: 59% (lowest since 1918).
✔️ Recent elections: Modest recovery, but still lower than post-war levels.
Why is turnout lower in local and devolved elections?
- Voters see these governments as having less power over their lives.
- Example: 2016 English local elections had 33.8% turnout.
What does ‘participation crisis’ mean?
A situation where large numbers of people do not engage in politics, undermining democracy.
Is political participation in the UK decreasing?
✔️ Traditional participation (voting, party membership) has declined.
✔️ Turnout is lower than in the past.
❌ BUT: People engage in politics in new ways (e.g., protests, pressure groups, social media campaigns).
How do pressure groups keep people involved in politics?
Many people now join pressure groups instead of political parties, focusing on single issues like the environment.
Give an example of a major political protest in the UK.
✔️ Anti-Iraq War protests attracted hundreds of thousands of demonstrators.
✔️ Tuition fee protests saw students campaigning against government policies.
What role does social media play in modern political participation?
✔️ Young people engage in politics online.
✔️ E-petitions allow citizens to support causes easily.
✔️ Example: In 2007, an e-petition against road charges got 1.8 million signatures.
What does ‘political apathy’ mean?
A lack of interest in politics or current events.
Why do people participate more in referendums?
People engage more when major national issues are at stake.
Name two referendums with high voter turnout.
✔️ 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum: 84.6% turnout.
✔️ 2016 EU Referendum: 72.2% turnout.
Why do people trust politicians less now?
✔️ Broken election promises make people feel their votes don’t matter.
✔️ Corruption scandals damage confidence.
Give an example of a political scandal that reduced trust in politicians.
✔️ 2010 ‘Cab for Hire’ scandal: Labour MP Stephen Byers was filmed offering to lobby for businesses in exchange for money.
What does ‘legitimacy’ mean in politics?
Legitimate power is power that has been legally acquired and is exercised fairly under the rule of law.
What are the benefits of compulsory voting?
✔️ Voting is a civic duty, like jury service.
✔️ It would make Parliament more representative.
✔️ Politicians would need to improve campaigns to appeal to all voters
What are the drawbacks of compulsory voting?
❌ Undemocratic – voting should be a choice, not an obligation.
❌ It doesn’t solve the reasons why people don’t vote.
❌ Politicians might take voters for granted instead of engaging them.
How could changing the electoral system improve democracy?
✔️ Proportional representation (PR) would match seats to votes more fairly.
✔️ Small parties would have better chances of winning seats.
How could Parliament be made more democratic?
✔️ Making Parliament more transparent.
✔️ Holding governments more accountable for their actions.
How could devolution be improved in the UK?
✔️ More local powers could be transferred to English regions.
✔️ A possible English Parliament could give England the same level of devolution as Scotland and Wales.
