1.1 The features of direct democracy and representative democracy

Question 1

features of representative democracy: AC

Answer 1

accountability: without it, representation becomes meaningless.

Question 2

How are MPs held accountable?

Answer 2

manifestos - what they promise in their manifesto must be delivered, if not, they (probably) are voted out

Question 3

features of representative democracy: SR

Answer 3

characteristics of a representative body should be broadly in line with characteristics of population as a whole: parliament should be 50% female

Question 4

features of a representative democracy: CR

Answer 4

1. representing interests of ur constituency as a whole
2. representing individual constituents
3. listening to views of constituents in relation to national interests

Question 5

features of a representative democracy: PR

Answer 5

party representation
basically manifestos

Question 6

features of a representative democracy: functional representation

Answer 6

occupational or social groups
trade unions!
the elderly, lgbt, disabled

Question 7

advantages of representative democracy

Answer 7

1. politicans must be well informed, and not swayed by emotion
2. politicans should act as a balance of conflicting interests when reaching decisions
3. politicans must be accountable. Voters can choose whether to renew mandates

Question 8

disadvantages of representative democracy

Answer 8

1. MPs represent ‘metropolitan elite’ not traditional values. EXAMPLE: 2016 EU membership referendum, 52% of the public voted to leave the EU.
2. Powerful pressure groups, lobbyists, and the london-based media create a bubble around westminister
3. MPs can have second jobs conflicting their views and compromising their representative role. EXAMPLE: 2021 Owen Patterson resigned after lobbying for companies
4. FPTP means it’s impossible to be authentically representative
5. HoL unelected and unaccountable.

Question 9

what do voters remain under representative democracy?

Answer 9

sovereign.
they decide whether to renew an MPs mandate or not.
MPs should weigh up constituents, party’s manifesto promises, and understanding of the issue before voting.

Question 10

devolved governments?

Answer 10

provide another layer of representation

Question 11

How unrepresentative is westminister?

Answer 11

very middle class and increasingly so.
some argue MPs do not need to share the same characteristics of a group to represent their interests, for example LGBTQ legislation can be passed by heterosexual parliamentarians

Question 12

EXAMPLE for westminister being unrepresentative

Answer 12

IN 2018, THE HANSARD SOCIETY estimated 83% of higher social groups were prepared to participate in politics, vs 41% or less for lower social groups.
Only 2% of homeless people registered to vote in 2018.

Question 13

what is direct democracy?

Answer 13

no distinction between government and citizen, instead there is continuous agreement by the democratic process.
(this would be impossible with 40m voters in the UK, but there are elements of direct democracy)

Question 14

referendums

Answer 14

directly expressing views
EXAMPLE in 2014: scottish independence referendum, 55.3% voted in favour of scotland remaining, 44.7% voted for independence.

EXAMPLE: EU referendum in 2016, 52% of people voted to leave, 48% voted to remain

Question 15

advantages of referendums

Answer 15

direct choice
greater legitimacy than a representative decision

Question 16

disadvantages of referendums

Answer 16

require a detailed understanding

the ongoing debate over Scottish independence and the UKs relationship with the EU suggests referendums don’t conclusively resolve contentious issues

Question 17

electronic petitions

Answer 17

parliament must engage with petitions with over 100,000 signatures.

EXAMPLE: in 2021, several important issues were raised by e-petitions such as making it a legal requirement for night clubs to search guests on entry.

Question 18

advantages of e petitions

Answer 18

marcus rashfords #EndChildFoodPoverty persuaded the government to commit to free school meals for low-income families during holidays

Question 19

disadvantages of e petitions

Answer 19

can raise false impressions, and some issues cannot be legislated.

EXAMPLE: tony blair’s revocation of his knighthood gained over 1m signatures, but this is done by the monarch

Question 20

consultative exercises

Answer 20

setup when government want to survey the likely reaction of the public to a certain issue.
Eg. HS2 rail link

Question 21

advantages of consultative exercises

Answer 21

important way of engaging with public issues

Question 22

disadvantages of consultative exercises

Answer 22

public’s opinion is not binding

most socially disadvantaged groups are the least likely to engage anyway

Question 23

open primaries

Answer 23

the public decides who the candidate should be.

EXAMPLE: David Cameron encouraged open primaries to open up politics. 13 conservative candidates were selected this way for the 2015 general election

Question 24

advantages of open primaries

Answer 24

people less affiliated with parties are more likely to enter politics.

Sarah Wolllaston was the first tory candidate to be elected this way in 2009

Question 25

Recall of MPs act 2015

Answer 25

if an MP has been imprisoned, suspended from the house, or convicted of false expense claims, a recall petition signed by a minimum of 10% of constituents can trigger a by-election

EXAMPLE: in 2019 MP Fiona Onasanya for Peterborough was sentenced to a 3 month jail term for perverting the course of justice, and 25% wanted her recalled

Question 26

advantages of recall

Answer 26

accountability

Question 27

disadvantages of recall

Answer 27

circumstances in which it can be activated are so extreme it’s hard to ascertain the impact of it

Question 28

advantages of direct democracy

Answer 28

engages with the public, makes politicans more responsive

greater engagement in the political process, encourages education

representatives are kept informed in developing public attitudes through referendums

Question 29

disadvantages of referendums

Answer 29

dangerous to simplify issues with a yes/no (EU involved issues with Northern Ireland, the market, and the EU customers union, but it did not address these)

Can challenge Burke’s principle that representatives should act according to their conscience.
(Theresa May supported Remain in 2016 but led the withdrawal from the EU)

doesn’t balance conflicting interests or protect the rights of minorities

can encourage the public to vote on issues they know nothing about.