1.1 Democracy and participation Flashcards
What are the main features of direct democracy?
- Individuals express own self-opinion
- Not Elective
- Citizens are more active in decision making
What are the main features of representative democracy?
- Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf
- Elections for representatives are free and fair
- All adult citizens have the right to vote
- Citizens pass their authority to representatives
What are the advantages of direct democracy?
- Gives equal weight to all votes
- Encourages popular participation in politics
- Develops a sense of community and encourages genuine debate
- Removes the need for trusted representatives = responsibility of own decisions
What are the disadvantages of direct democracy?
- Impractical in a large, heavily populated modern state
- People may not want to, or may not feel qualified enough to participate in the vote
- Open to manipulation by clever speakers
- Minority viewpoints are disregarded
What are the advantages of representative democracy?
- The only practical system in a large modern state where issues are complex and need a rapid response
- Parties bring coherence and pressure groups encourage a pluralist society
- Reduces the impact of the ‘tyranny of the majority’
- Elections allow people to hold representatives to account
- Politicians are better informed than the average citizen on 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
- Parties and pressure groups run by elites and people pushing their own agenda
- Minorities find themselves under-represented
- Politicians skilful in avoiding accountability, especially as general elections are usually 5 years apart
- Politicians may be corrupt or incompetent
In which ways can direct democracy be used in a representative system?
- National Referendums
- 2015 Recall of MPs act
What is the 2015 Recall of MPs act?
- If an MP is sentenced to be imprisoned or is suspended from the HoC for more than 21 days a petition is triggered
- If more than 10% of constituents sign this petition, a byelection is called
Where does government derive its consent from?
The people
What are the positive features of the UK’s democracy?
- Free and Fair elections
- Elected HoC
- Devolved Governments
- Independent Judiciary
- Free media
- Wide range of political parties and pressure groups
What does the term ‘democratic deficit’ mean?
Decisions are taken by people whose appointment lacks adequate democratic input, or who are not subject to proper accountability
In what ways is the UK’s system undemocratic?
- Inefficiencies of First Past the Post (FPTP) causing lack of representation of minority views
- House of Lords lacks democratic legitimacy
- Lack of protection for citizen’s rights
- Control of sections of the media by wealthy, unaccountable business interests
What does the term ‘participation crisis’ mean?
A lack of engagement with the political system
In what ways can a participation crisis be measured?
- Voter turnout
- Party membership
What % was the turnout in the 1997 election?
71.4%
What % was the turnout in the 2001 election?
59.4%
What % was the turnout in the 2017 election?
68.7%
In what elections is turnout usually lower and why?
- Smaller elections such as the local elections
- -> Because voters see less powerful bodies as unlikely to make a major difference to their lives
What % turnout occurred in the 2012 police and crime commissioner elections?
15%
What % of people belongs to one of the 3 main parties?
1.6%
What is the current Conservative membership?
124,000
What is the current Labour membership?
540,000
What is the current SNP membership?
125,500
In what informal ways can citizens become involved within politics?
- Pressure groups & demonstrations
- Social Media
- E-democracy (e-petitions)
What is ‘political apathy’?
A lack of interest or awareness of contemporary events and political issues that affect society
What is ‘hapathy’?
The idea that people are contented and therefore feel no need to push for political reform
Does political participation depend on the type of issue that is at stake?
Yes
What was the % turnout for the Scottish Independence Referendum?
84.6%
What was the BREXIT referendum turnout?
72.2%
What reforms have been proposed in order to increase turnout and make elections easier?
- Changing election days from a Thursday to the weekend
- Allowing people to vote at any polling station in their constituency
- Allowing voting to take place over several days
What other ways can increase the simplicity of voting?
Postal votes
Potential E-voting
Give an example of a country that has compulsory voting
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Turkey, Mexico & more
What broader reforms should be considered to decrease voter apathy?
- Changing the electoral system to a more directly proportional one
- Further reform and transparency of parliament
- The transfer of more government powers and functions of government bodies
WHat age do you have to be to vote in general elections?
18
What age do you have to be to vote in Scottish referendums?
16
What reform acts widened the franchise?
-1832 Great reform act
-1867 Great reform act
-1884 Reform act
-1918/28 Representation of the people acts
1948 - Plural voting
-1969 reduction of the voting age
Who helped to extend the franchise for women?
The Suffragists and suffragettes
What is there a current movement to extend the franchise to?
16 year olds
What are the 3 types of pressure group?
- Sectional
- Causal
- Social Movement
What defines a sectional pressure group?
Seek to promote the interests of an occupation or group within society. E.G. Trade Unions
What defines a causal pressure group?
Focused on drawing attention to an issue or group related issue
What is the difference between a causal group and social movement?
A causal group is more loosely structured E.G. Extinction rebellion
In nature of their relationship with the government, what are the 2 main groupings for pressure groups?
- Insider groups
- Outsider groups
What is an insider pressure group?
A group that relies on contact with social ministers and civil servants to achieve their aims
What is a causal pressure group?
A group not consulted by the government
What are pressure group methods determined by?
- The resources available
- Its status as an insider or outsider group
Which groups resort to more direct action?
Causal/Social movement
What are the key features as to why some pressure groups have more influence and are more effective than others?
- Resources
- Tactics/Leadership
- Public support
- Government attitudes
What 3 other collective organisations influence decision making?
- Think tanks
- Lobbyists
- Corporations
In the UK, which act guarantees rights?
Human Rights Act 1998
Give examples of the milestones that have developed civil rights within the UK
Magna Carta (1215)
ECHR
HRA 1998
Equality Act 2010
Why is the UK considered a ‘rights based culture’?
All new legislation must be compliant with the HRA
What undermines judicial power, limiting the force judges can use to ensure government is compliant with the HRA?
Parliamentary Sovereignty
What does judicial review indicate?
The growing prominence of rights within the UK
What did the number of judicial reviews rise from and to in 2000-2013?
From- 4240
To-15,600
What is judicial review sometimes criticised for?
Effectively creating a privacy law through the way they have interpreted the HRA
What is a serious fault of the HRA?
Give an example of this fault
It shows favour to undeserving individuals rather than protecting the legitimate freedoms of UK citizens
E.G. Abu Qatada case
What is an example of Judicial review favouring the ‘right to privacy’ over other rights?
Madonna and Guy Richie’s estate being walked on by the public didn’t infringe on their privacy therefore the judiciary didn’t change the public pathways after the ‘right to roam’ was introduced (2004)
What does the Howard League for Penal reform campaign for?
Campaigns for the rights of prisoners
Why is the government less likely to side with pressure groups that campaign for minority issues?
The wider public regards them as undeserving of sympathy
