1.1 Democracy Intro Flashcards
3
Features of direct democracy
- purest form of democracy - origins in Greece
- people make decisions themselves
- Used in initiatives (USA) and referendums (UK) modern day
7
Features of representative democracy
- politicians elected to make decisions on voters behalf, often through legislature
- representatives accountable to voters
- Regular free elections key component
- Characterised by representative legislatures (parliaments, assemblies, councils)
- Govt elected to make key proposals and implement change
- Parties campaign to represent people in parliament
- Pressure groups operate, representing sections of society and various cases from outside the political system
UK is (…) democracy that uses direct democracy for (…) issues
representative
constitutional
3
To what extent should UK use more direct democracy?
P1: encourages participation (e.g. 85% turnout indyref 2014) so people feel more directly involved and more legitimacy to decisions vs political instability when popular sovereignty clashes with elected representatives (e.g. EU)
P2: pluralism of issues ignored in representative democracy vs tyranny of majority
P3: stimulates debate (indyref 2014 reasoned debates) vs democratic ovrrload/ill-informed public - JSM (e.g. Electoral Reform Society found that many were uninformed in EU ref) - should be left to expert representatives
3
Evaluate the view that Representative Democracy is more advantageous than Direct Democracy
P1: Only viable form of democracy - solution to popular rule (can be complemented with DD) vs voter apathy - voter views not represented (e.g. declining voter turnouts)
P2: Representatives can be experts - superior understanding than public (Matt Hancock MP holistic approach in Covid as was former economics advisor) vs influx of trustee politicians who do not reflect views of electors (e.g. Natalie Elphicke)
P3: pluralism through representation of minorities vs FPTP system disrupts this
3
Evaluate the view that there is a participation crisis in the UK
P1: Declining voter turnout (e.g. risen from 59% to 67% 2001 to 2019 , but still below avg voter turnout 75% in 20th century) - must be indicative of whole system as GE are bedrock of UK democracy vs more opportunities to vote - devolved assemblies P&CC
P2: Slacktivism (e-petitions e.g. 6m signatures for revoke article 50) vs new forms of political participation (media programmes like BLM)
P3: Decline in traditional parties and trade unions (13m 1979 to 6m 2016) vs rise in smaller parties like Green and Reform UK
3
To what extent will reforms enhance UK democracy?
P1: more direct democracy - encourage participation vs undermine ability of elected politicians to deliver on manifesto promises due to tyranny of majority
P2: electoral reform - strengthen legitimacy and more representative - more pluralism vs undermine key UK institutions - coalitions of chaos
P3: compulsory voting - turnout would reach 100% - used in Australia - people more engaged vs would only mask problems of political apathy - people feel they are not represented properly and institutional reforms may be more appropriate
3
Evaluate the view that the UK is a genuine pluralist democracy?
P1: Minor party influence vs Two-party dominance and financing
P2: Variety of pressure groups vs corporate lobbying + CBI
P3: Diff electoral systems (e.g. AMS in Scotland) vs Withdrawn in England
2
What are the different models of representation?
Delegate - representative is mouthpiece of constituents
Trustee - use own judgement
2
Pressure groups operate in both…
direct and representative democracy
though nature of operation is different
2
How did Matt hancock have a holistic approach to the Covid response
- Health Sec
- former senior economic adviser to George Osborne as Shadow CX
2
Give an example of MPs becoming more independently-minded
- 21 Tory rebels defied whip to support Letwin Amendment to block no-deal
- 10 had whip restored
2
Which MPs recently crossed the floor?
- Con-Lab - Dan Poulter, Natalie Elphicke
- SNP-Con - Lisa Cameron
