1.1 Representative + Direct Democracy

Question 1

How are decisions made in a direct democracy?

Answer 1

Majority citizen vote

Question 2

Three methods of direct democracy?

Answer 2

• Referendums
• Online Petitions
• Protests

Question 3

Three Examples of Referendums in The UK?

Answer 3

• 2011 AV Referendum
• 2016 Brexit Referendum
• 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum

Question 4

Two examples of protests in the UK?

Answer 4

• 2012 - Occupy London
• 2003 - 2 Mil march against Iraq war

Question 5

Two examples of an online petition?

Answer 5

• 2018 - stop Donald Trump’s state visit - 1.6 Mil
• 2022 - NB legally recognised gender - 140 K

Question 6

Pros of direct democracy?

Answer 6

• High transparency - people make decisions
• all votes count equally
• Will of the people
• educate public
• encourage participation
• purest form of democracy

Question 7

Cons of direct democracy?

Answer 7

• Voters do not have expert knowledge - Representatives debating
  educates them
• can be manipulated - not pure will of people
• impractical and time consuming

Question 8

Who are the representatives in the UK parliament?

Answer 8

MPs

Question 9

How many constituencies are there?

Answer 9

650

Question 10

How do representatives represent their constituents?

Answer 10

• Vote on + debate bills that impact constituents
• hold surgeries
• question PM at PMQs

Question 11

Pros of direct democracy?

Answer 11

• Representatives can be held accountable better than individuals
• Descriptive representation - represent different groups of society -
  prevent tyranny of the majority
• Have more expertise than the public
• Faster, cheaper, more practical

Question 12

Cons of direct democracy?

Answer 12

• Can act as either a delegate or a trustee
• May not accurately represent society
• can act in their own self interest rather than for constituents
• Low participation levels as peoples choices do not seem to make as
  much of a change

Question 13

Similarities between direct + representative democracy

Answer 13

• allow voters to have a say in decisions
• use public mandates

Question 14

Differences between direct + representative democracy

Answer 14

• vote for decisions v. vote for decision maker
• votes worth equal amount v. wasted votes
• mandate from public vote v. representative has mandate

Question 15

Why should the UK have democratic reform?

Answer 15

• ‘democratic deficit’
• low voter turnout
• FPTP voting system - wasted votes - safe seats - favour parties with
  concentrated support
• HoL - unelected house

Question 16

how can voter turnout be increased?

Answer 16

• compulsory voting
• online voting
• lowering voting age
• removing FPTP

Question 17

Why does the UK not need democratic reform?

Answer 17

• Media scrutiny holds the government to account
• pressure groups can represent minority groups
• electoral participation is at a similar level throughout europe there is little demand for reform

Question 18

What country has compulsory voting, and what is the turnout?

Answer 18

Australia, 95%