1.2 a wider franchise, debates over suffrage and a democratic deficit

Question 1

Where does the idea of liberal democracy come from and what is it?

Answer 1

• The idea goes back to the 17th century and thinkers, like John Locke, who believe that government ruled by the consent of the people governed
• they believe a social contract existed between the people and those in power
• it rejected the idea of an absolute monarchy and the divine right of kings which suggested leaders only answered to and were chosen by God
• leaders should answer to the people
• to help ensure people were free to live their lives and to prevent governments from becoming too powerful, a series of limitations should exist to restrict the power of the government in order to create a free society

Question 2

what is a democratic deficit?

Answer 2

• a flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy, due to not having been appointed with sufficient democratic input or being subject to accountability

Question 3

what could be seen as evidence of a democratic deficit in the UK?

Answer 3

-FPTP produces disproportional results, makes it very difficult for smaller or new political parties
- H of L is unelected but has considerable influence
- the sovereignty of parliament, in theory, gives unlimited potential power to the government
- the powers of the Prime Minister are partly based on the authority of the unelected monarch
- The European court of Human Rights is not binding on parliament, so individual rights and liberties remain under threat

Question 4

what are the 10 key features of liberal democracy

Answer 4

-peaceful transition of power
-free elections
-fair elections
-widespread participation in politics
-freedom of expression and information
-the rule of law
-protection of rights and liberties
-freedom of association
-a constitution
-an independent judiciary

Question 5

what is peaceful ‘transition of power’?

Answer 5

• it means those who lose power by democratic elections accept authority of those who have won

Question 6

An example of the UK doing this well?
peaceful transition

Answer 6

• the UK is remarkably conflict free

Question 7

An example of the UK not doing this well?
peaceful transition

Answer 7

• short lived disuputes have arisen when the results were not clear in 2010 and 2017, leading to some claims of lack of legitimacy

Question 8

what is ‘free elections’?

Answer 8

• it means all adults are free to vote and stand for office, elections also need to be free to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote without fear, threat or intimidation

Question 9

An example of the UK doing this well?
free elections

Answer 9

-nearly everyone over 18 can vote

Question 10

An example of the UK not doing this well?
free elections

Answer 10

• some groups such as prisoners and effectively the homeless, are denied their right to vote

Question 11

what is ‘fair elections’?

Answer 11

• this means that everyone has one vote and all votes are of equal value, it also suggests there are safeguards in place to avoid electoral fraud and ballot rigging

Question 12

An example of the UK doing this well?
fair elections

Answer 12

• there are proportional systems in place in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and other devolved and local bodies

Question 13

An example of the UK not doing this well?
fair elections

Answer 13

• The FPTP system for general elections leads to disproportionate results and many wasted votes

Question 14

what is ‘widespread participation in politics’?

Answer 14

• it is important that a large proportion of the population participates in politics so there is not a brekadown in communication between the government and governed

Question 15

An example of the UK doing this well?
‘widespread participation in politics

Answer 15

• there is extensive membership of pressure groups, which are free and active
  -there is also a growing level of participation in e-democracy

Question 16

An example of the UK not doing this well?
‘widespread participation in politics

Answer 16

• since 2001, voter turnout in general elections has been, on average, lower than in previous elections, while party membership, especially among the young, has been in decline

Question 17

what is ‘freedom of expression and information’?
freedom of expression and information

Answer 17

• the right of the people to express their opinion to those in power, their policies or their competence without being arrested or prosecuted. it also means people should be able to access wider information to check the government and consider how well it is doing

Question 18

An example of the UK doing this well?
freedom of expression and information

Answer 18

• the press and broadcast media are free of government interference

Question 19

An example of the UK not doing this well?
freedom of expression and information

Answer 19

• many news owners tend to have their own political preferences that influence the news

Question 20

what is ‘ the rule of law’?

Answer 20

• all citizens should be treated equally under the law and that the government itself should be subject to the same laws as it citezens

Question 21

An example of the UK doing this well?
the rule of law’?

Answer 21

• upheld strictly by the judiciary

Question 22

An example of the UK not doing this well?
the rule of law’?

Answer 22

• the monarch is exempt from legal restrictions
• there is statistical evidence to suggest that those of higher social standing are treated more leniantly

Question 23

what is ‘protection of rights and liberties’?

Answer 23

• this implies there should be some enforceable ‘basic laws’ to protect rights and liberties, the rights and liberties should be firmly safeguarded

Question 24

An example of the UK doing this well?
‘protection of rights and liberties’

Answer 24

• the country is signed up to the EHRC and the courts enforce this

Question 25

An example of the UK not doing this well?
‘protection of rights and liberties’

Answer 25

• the ECHR is not binding on the UK parliament

Question 26

what is ‘freedom of association’?

Answer 26

• this means people have the freedom to form parties or pressure groups, providing their aims and methods are legal

Question 27

An example of the UK doing this well?
freedom of association

Answer 27

• there are no restrictions on legal organisations
• people may organise and instigate public protests

Question 28

An example of the UK not doing this well?
freedom of association

Answer 28

• public meetings and demonstrations can be restricted on the grounds of ‘public safety’

Question 29

what is ‘ a constitution’?

Answer 29

-the usual way to set limits of government power is to define them in a constituiton that will be enforced by the forces of law

Question 30

An example of the UK doing this well?
a constitution’

Answer 30

• parliament and the courts ensure the government acts within the law
• The human rights acts as a restraint on the actions of the government

Question 31

An example of the UK not doing this well?
a constitution’

Answer 31

• there is no codified UK constitution so the limits to government power are vague

Question 32

what is ‘an independent judiciary’?

Answer 32

• it is the key role of the judiciary to ensure that the tule of law is upheld.
• Will ensure that all individuals and groups in society are treated equally under the law

Question 33

An example of the UK doing this well?
‘an independent judiciary

Answer 33

• the judiciary is independent and non political

Question 34

An example of the UK not doing this well?
‘an independent judiciary

Answer 34

• the monarch is exempt from legal restrictions (within theory)

Question 35

what are the ways to participate in politics?

Answer 35

-join a pressure group
-become a party member
-attend events/forums
-run as a representative
-vote
-petition
-write to your MP
-protest
-e democracy
-write a political article

Question 36

what is the most to least intensive way to participate in politics?

Answer 36

most
-standing for public office
-active party membership
-active pressure group membership
-passive party/pressure group memerbship
-digital activists
-voting
least

Question 37

define politcal participation crises?

Answer 37

a lack of engagement with the political process by significant numbers of citizens, either choosing not to vote or not to join or become members of political parties or not to offer themselves for public office

Question 38

what is happening with political party participation?
(membership)

Answer 38

in the 1940s and 50s membership of all political parties rose to over 3 million. since 1980, labour support decreased rapidly from 1.8% to 0.7%, as seen in the decline of party membership. Now only2.11% of the electoral have party membership.

Question 39

what are the 3 exceptions that lead to increasing party membership?

Answer 39

• a huge surge in labour membership when it was made possible in 2015 to join for £3
• following 2014 Scottish independence referendum, memberships to SNP rose to 5 mil
• increase in UKIP membership in the run up to the 2015 election

Question 40

what is happening with voting participation?

Answer 40

-since 1979 voting participation increased from 76% to 77.7% in 1992. it decreased largely in 2001 to 59.4%, but has risen ever since to 68.7% in 2017.
-The uk turnout is average compared to western countries, in 2019 Australias turnout was 91.89\5, the uk’s 67.3% and americas 55.7%. however much of Europe has a large turnout compared to the Uk like Italy, beluguim, France and Germany.
-In recent referendums participation has been 84.6% and 72.2%, this is an increase from 34.1%. however it may be a result of the question asked rather than voters e.g Scottish independence has the largest voter turnout

Question 41

what are the advantages of e democracy?

Answer 41

require little effort and it is immediately clear how much support a particular issue may have

Question 42

what are the disadvantages of e democracy?

Answer 42

no guarantee the participants know much about the issue

Question 43

how important is e-democracy to democracy?

Answer 43

2007 petition against a plan to introduce charges for using roads got 1.5 mil votes and the plan was dropped.
in 2020 175,654 voted to offer more support to the arts and so it was debated and more funding was announced

Question 44

what has happened to pressure groups in recent years?

Answer 44

• as membership of and activism in political parties have declined, they have partly been replaced by participation in pressure groups. groups like trade unions and professional associations have been prominent
• rspb membership= 1.2 mil
• conserve membership=172,000

Question 45

how are pressure groups different/ how do they act?

Answer 45

these groups rely on mass membership, seeking mass activism. they rely on mass active support rather than a large membership

Question 46

how is the internet changing politics?

Answer 46

a campaign on current issues can be mounted in just a few hours or days, information about various injustices or demands for immediate action over some kind of social evil can circulate quickly, putting pressure on decision makers and elected representatives. sites such as 38 degrees and change.org help facilitate this

Question 47

do you think social media and the internet make a difference?

Answer 47

• parties can gather data from social media accounts to help target specific voters with specific issues that will resonate with them. social media allows more personalised campaigning that is relevant to key voters.

Question 48

what are the examples of suffrage reforms that have made the system less corrupt?

Answer 48

• ballot act 1872: this introduces the secret ballot. The main result is that votes can be no longer be bought by corrupt candidates and voters are free to make up their own minds
  -representation of the people act 1948: until this act some universities returned their own MP. This meant some people, who were members of the universities, had two votes- one for the university member and one for the constituency where they lived. so the principal of ‘one person, one vote’ is now finally established in the uk

Question 49

what are the examples of suffrage reforms that have meant more men can vote?

Answer 49

-great reforms act 1832: the franchise is extended to new classes of people including shopkeepers and small farmers and anyone whose property attracts a rent of at least £10per annum. made the franchise 6%of the population, rising from 4%
-second reform act 1867: this act extends the right to vote again, though it doubles the electoral to about 2 million. women, the propertyless and tenants of very cheap properties were excluded
-third reform act 1884: the franchise is extended to most working men, about 60% of adults have the right to vote

Question 50

what are the examples of suffrage reforms that have meant more women can vote?

Answer 50

-representation of the people act 1918: women over 30 who are married or a property owner or a graduate can vote
- representation of the act (equal franchise act) 1928: this extends the franchise to all adults over 21, including women

Question 51

when was age voting aged lowered to 18 from 21?

Answer 51

representation of the people act 1969

Question 52

what happened in Wales 2020?

Answer 52

decreased the age for votes to the senead to 16-17 from 18

Question 53

define franchise/suffrage?

Answer 53

both refer to the ability/right to vote in public elections. suffragettes were women campaigning for the right to vote on the same terms as men

Question 54

which people cannot vote?

Answer 54

• members in the house of lords
• those sectioned under the mental health act
• prisoners
• those under 18
• the homeless
• EU citizen residents in the UK

Question 55

reasons 16 and 17 year olds should be able to vote?

Answer 55

• the uk has a blurred age of majority, with the age for various activities being lower than 18. 16 is the age that people can leave full time education ,work for 20 hours a week, pay direct tax, consent to sexual relationships, join the army, get married, consent to medical treatment
• the lack of political representation for young people aged between 16 and 18 means that their needs, views and interests are routinely marginalised or ginned. therefore lowing the voting age gives greater attention to and stimulate thinking on issues such as education, drugs policy and social morality.
• concerns bout declining civil engagement focuses on the young, as 18 to 24 year olds have the lowest turnout rates, lowering the voting age would re-engage such voters in two ways; by strenghening their interest and to reoriantate politics around issues that have more meaning to young people
• the notion that the current voting age is a reflection of intellectual and educational development is flawed. it both ignores the steady rise in educational standards, and the fact that no restrictions are applied to politically ignorant and poorly educated adults

Question 56

reasons 16 and 17 year olds should not be able to vote?

Answer 56

• until 18 most young people are in full time education and continue to live with their parents. this means they are not full citizens and their educational development remains incomplete. most 16-18 year olds are unlikely to be interested in or have knowledge of politics
• to regard the lack of representation of 16-18 year olds as a political injustice Is absurd. young people are not permanently denied political representation, it is just delated or deferred.
• there is a possibility, that by lowering the voting age, turnout rates may decline, as you voters are less likely to vote than older voters they may choose not to vote
• the campaign to lower the voting age is a symptom of a larger trend to erode childhood by forcing adult responsibilities and choices on children and young adults

Question 57

reasons voting should be compulsory?

Answer 57

• the almost certain consequence of introducing compulsory voting would be that turnout rates would increase. a significant impetus for the introduction of compulsory voting in Australia was a decline in voter turnout, which had fallen to 60% at the 1924 election but has remained stable at over 90% since.
• governments formed on the basis of compulsory voting a more likely to rest on majority or at the very least, have a much larger percentage of the total electorate. compulsory voting would therefore strengthen the democratic legitimacy of UK governments
• making voting compulsory would have wider educational implications in emphasising that political participation is a civic duty
• voting voluntarily disadvantages the most vulnerable elements in society, the unemployed and low skilled workers, young people and ethnic minorities, those who are less likely to vote.

Question 58

Reasons voting should not be compulsory

Answer 58

• It could be argued to be an abuse of freedom- the removal of the choice not to vote. Some may choose not to vote deliberately, as a political act- this choice would no longer be possible
• Although turnout may increase, this does not necessarily mean people will automatically become more engaged in politics
• Forcing people to vote may increase the number of ill-thought out and unconsidered choices
• Politicians may focus their efforts more on volatile voters, who would not normally vote. Therefore, their interests are considered more than others

Question 59

reasons prisoners should be given the vote?

Answer 59

• the denial of the right to vote removes a sense of civic responsibility, making rehabilitation harder
• there is no evidence that a loss of franchise acts as a deterent
• the right to vote is fundamental and cannot be removed
• removal of the vote makes a prisoner a non person and further alienates them from society
• the ECHR has rules that the blanket ban on prisoners is a violation of the HRA

Question 60

reasons prisoners should not be given the vote?

Answer 60

• those who commit a custodial crime against society should lose the right to have a say in how the country is run
• the threat of losing the right to vote prevents criminals and enhances civic responsibility
• how laws are made would undermine the principle of justice
• prisoners are concentrated in certain constituencies where they are unlikely to remain once free, so they should not be able to choose the local representatives for those communities

Question 61

what is a modern campaign to extend the franchise?

Answer 61

voters at 16, is a coalition of a number of different groups that believe the franchise should be extended to 16 and 17 year olds across the UK in all elections

Question 62

what are the methods the campaign uses?
(votesfor 16 year olds)

Answer 62

• producing and publishing information through its website
• providing templates and advice on how to email local MPS to raise the issue in parliament
• providing information and advice on how to raise awareness and campaign locally, in schools and universities
• providing advice on how to lobby MPs
• organising an initiative called ‘adopt a peer’ tp encourage members to contact and lobby specific members of the House of Lords

Question 63

what are some success the campaign has had?

Answer 63

• lowering the voting age to 16 was official party policy in the 2019 manifestos for labour, Lib Dem and the green party
• before the 2019 election , seven conservative MPs publicly endorsed lowering the voting age to 16
• the voting age for elections to the Scottish and welsh parliaments has now been lowered to 16
• in 2014 the voting age was lowered to 16 for the Scottish independence referendum
• in 2012 a debate on the issue was held in Westminster hall

Question 64

what are suffragettes?

Answer 64

campaigners in the early part of the 20th century advocating votes for women, who used both parliamentary lobbying and civil disobedience as their methods

Question 65

give a summary of the work of the suffragettes

Answer 65

the last struggle over suffrage wast to give women an equal right to the vote with men, the first petition to give women the right to vote was presented to Parliament in 1866 but was largely ignore. local movements united in 1897 under the leadership of millicent Fawcett and the national union of women’s suffrage societies. it was opened to all and internally democratic, putting pressure on those In power through letter writing, producing publication, peaceful marches and protests. by 1914 the NUWSS had 100,00 members across 400 branches. despite the work fo the NUWSS some women felt the pace of change was too slow, leading to the creation of the Women’s; social and political union (WSPU) or the suffragettes in 1903 by emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters. it was only open to when and was not internally democratic, it focused on ‘deeds not words’ using violence and illegal methods to publicise the issue of female suffrage and to put external pressure on those in power. methods included changing themselves to railings, attempting to blow up buildings, destroying letters in post boxes, and going on hunger strikes in resin. they also sold badges and games to raise awareness of their cause. the violence adopted by the WSPU drew attention to the case leading to people talking about the issue, however the violence also cost them support, with people believing that given women the right to vote would be giving in to terrorist actions. it was the work of women during WW1 and the fear of a resumption of the violence of the WSPU that persuaded parliament in 1918 to give women over 30 the right to vote