3.1.2.1 democracy and participation Flashcards
1
Q
Democracy
A
A system where power is held by ‘the people’
2
Q
Direct democracy
A
A system where the people are able to make decisions directly on an issue, usually in the form of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response
3
Q
Represenative democracy
A
A system where the people elect a person or group of people to represent their intrests and make decisions on their behalf
4
Q
pluralist democracy
A
A system of government where there is competition between different groups who represent popular concerns to the government of the day
5
Q
Key features of a pluralist democracy
A
-there will be a wide dispersal of power among competing groups
-there will be no elite groups
-groups will be internally democratic
-group leaders will be accountable to their members
-there will be a range of access points
-the government should be politically neutral
6
Q
what are the functions of democracy
A
-representation
-accountability
-participation
-power dispersal
-legitimacy
-education
7
Q
arguments in favour of direct democracy
A
-a pure form of democarcy
-increased legitimacy
-improves participation
-increases public engagement
-improves political education
-it works
8
Q
arguments against direct democracy
A
-it is not practical
-tyranny of the majority
-undermines elected representatives
-low turnouts
-emotional responses
-populist outcomes
9
Q
positive aspects of democracy in the uk
A
-free and fair elections
-turnout
-universal suffrage
-the party system
-pressure groups
-parliamentary sovereignty
-devolution
10
Q
negative aspects of dmeocracy in the uk
A
-unelected elements
-turnout
-the west lothian question and EVEL
-the voting system
-lack of meaningful choice
-elitist pressure groups
-weaknesses of the electoral commision
-lack of entrenched rights
11
Q
purdah
A
A phrase used to describe the period before an election or vote where members of locsl councils or government are not allowed to make any new statements or propsals that could affect the way in which people vote. the period is usually between 4 and 6 weeks
12
Q
pressure groups
A
a group of like-minded individuals who come together on the basis of shared interests or a commonly held cause in order to put pressure on policy makers at westminster and beyond
13
Q
democratic deficit
A
A term used to describe the undemocratic nature of institutions or procedures that are suppossed to promote democracy
14
Q
participation crisis
A
A term used to describe a failure of the public to participate in the political process, which can undermine democratic democracy
15
Q
Franchise
A
the right to vote in elections
16
Q
traditional methods of participating
A
-voting
-joining a political party and helping it to campaign
-joining a pressure group
-organising or signing a petition
-going on a march
-going on a strike
-writing a letter
-standing for public office
17
Q
modern developments in participation
A
-e-petitions
-blogging
-protesting on social media
-organising a demonstartion via social media
18
Q
slacktivism
A
this is the term used to describe new methods of participating, as they require little energy
19
Q
what is a problem with low turnout?
A
as it questions the legitmacy of the elected government
20
Q
what is corportism?
A
refers to the process of incorporating different groups into the workings of the government
21
Q
In britain has the extent of power given to the people been limited
A
yes
22
Q
Why is British democracy power limited?
A
- The House of Lords and the power of the monarch - for centuries only wealthy, male landowners had the right to vote for MPs.
23
Q
what issues did many people vote on in the EU election which turned out to be due to a lack of education?
A
- parliamentary sovereignty
- immigration
- dissatisfaction with the government at the time
24
Q
after the NHS claim
A
The claim was contested before the vote and, after the vote, UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the claim should never have been made, because there is no guarantee that the money could be redirected in this way.
25
Liberal democracy
In this form of democracy, the right to vote will be widespread and representatives will act in the interests of everyone in society.
26
Majoritarian democracy
This is a system whereby the will or desires of the majority of the population are the prime considerations of the government
27
Parliamentary democracy
This is a system where parliament stands
as the highest form of authority. The executive branch will be drawn from and accountable to the people’s representatives in parliament.
28
Presidential democracy
This is a system where the executive will be
elected separately from the legislative body and is therefore chosen by and directly accountable to the people.
29
Representation (FOD)
There must be a means of the people being able to put their views to the government of the day.
30
Accountability (FOD)
There must be a process by which the government of the day can be made to explain and take responsibility for its actions.
31
Participation (FOD)
There must be a way in which the people can be
engaged and take part in the political process.
32
Power Dispersal (FOD)
There should be a system that ensures power is
spread across different political bodies to avoid one body becoming overly dominant.
33
Legitimacy (FOD)
The process for the selection of the different branches of government should have legal authority and fairly represent the will of
the people.
34
Education (FOD)
The political process should be open to all and there should be an educated and informed citizenry who are able to understand the issues and make informed decisions.
35
Why is direct democracy seen as the purest form of direct democracy?
as the people are able to express their opinions directly, without being misinterpreted.
36
What is the most common form of direct democracy?
Referendums
37
Initiative
A means by which the people, rather than the government, can call for a vote on a specific issue.
38
Petition
An appeal to make something specific happen, usually by demonstrating a high level of popular support.
39
The nature of representation
The nature of the representation can take many forms but essentially the electe representatives will debate and discuss laws on behalf of the people who have elected them.
40
The electoral commission
The Electoral Commission was created in 2000 by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. The Commission is independent from government and party influence and has the key responsibility of overseeing and strengthening democracy in the UK.
41
Responsibilties ot the electoral commission
- registering political parties
- advising and explaining the rules relating to campaign finance and election spending
- ensuring political parties comply with legal requirements
- setting the criteria by which elections are run
- reviewing and reporting on how well elections are run
42
Universal suffrage
This means that everyone over the age of 18 who is not a prisoner, mentally incapable or a peer, has the right to vote, on the basis of one person, one vote.
43
The party system
With so many political parties contesting elections and scrutinising each other, the parties raise the profile of political issues and help to create a better informed and educated population.
44
Pressure groups
The UK has thousands of pressure groups, covering every issue possible. Pressure groups provide an alternative avenue of representation, particularly on small or minority issues, that might not concern a majority of the electorate or the parties seeking majority support.
45
What do pressure groups do ?
- investigate issues
- raise public awareness
- help to develop government policies in order to educate the electorate
46
Parliamentary sovereignty
Parliament holds legal sovereignty, which means that the chosen representatives of the people hold the ultimate power in making, amending and repealing laws.
47
Devolution
The process of devolution has allowed the constituent parts of the UK (apart from England), along with many cities, to make decisions on a local basis.
48
Therotical limitations of the monarch and lords
the monarch and Lords are theoretically limited, this is only by convention, such as the Salisbury Doctrine, and can be ignored by the Lords if they choose to do so.
49
The west lothian question and EVEL
MPs are making decisions about things that affect people who cannot hold them accountable, therefore not very democratics
50
First past the post flaws
- wasted votes
- safe seats
- unrepresentative
- winner's bonus
-discriminates against parties with widespread support
- minority constituencies
- two-party system
51
Winner's bonus
The system exaggerates the support received by the most popular party, which means the party receives more seats than is proportional to the number of votes it received, thus boosting its majority in parliament.
52
Discriminates against parties with widespread support
Parties with support spread across the UK but not concentrated in a geographic area will find it difficult to gain seats and therefore representation, such as the Greens, Liberal Democrats and UKIP.
53
Two-party system
It favours parties with a lot of support spread evenly across the country and generally results in one of the two main parties forming the government and the other forming an opposition or ‘government in waiting’.
54
Elitist pressure groups
Pressure groups do not compete on an equal footing. A small number of pressure groups tend to dominate any political debate at the expense of other interests. This results from a number of factors:
- insider status
- size of membership
- wealth
- public profile
55
Weakness of the electoral commission
Although the Electoral Commission oversees the elections, it is often a reactive, rather than proactive, body.
56
Lack of entrenched rights
Without a codified constitution, key rights can easily be overturned by the government without effective redress through the judicial system. This undermines a key principle of democracy that citizens’ rights are protected from government abuse.
57
How is freedom of the speech undermined
The creation of ‘safe spaces’ in universities has been criticised in parliament for restricting forums for debate and discussion.
58
How is freedom of protest undermined
Additional measures have been taken to restrict protests outside of parliament.
59
how is the right to vote undermined
Despite repeated judicial instructions, governments have not granted any prisoners the right to vote.
60
How is the right to due process undermined
Governments have been able to extend the period of detention without charge under the Terrorism Act to 28 days in 2006 (reduced to 14 days in January 2011) and suspend part of the Human Rights Act, as in the Belmarsh case.
61
Positive aspects of representative democracy in the UK
- Everyone is represented through a constituency MP
- The FPTP electoral system is simple and provides a clear winner for each seat.
- Britain has a variety of parties that contest elections, with 11 parties in parliament and many others contesting elections.
- Everyone over the age of 18, who is not a prisoner, mentally incapable or a peer, has the right to vote.
62
Negative aspects of representative democracy
- Due to the FPTP electoral system, there are many minority MPs who were not voted in by a majority of their constituents.
- The electoral system leads to wasted votes and unrepresentative outcomes in parliament.
- Safe seats across the UK mean that there is a lack of real choice in many constituencies. In addition, the fact that only two parties are in a realistic position to form a government reduces the level of choice.
- There are issues concerning the denial of the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds as well as prisoners.
- There are also many groups who are effectively disenfranchised by the process of registration, such as the homeless.
63
Six key aims of the NUSEC
- equal pay for equal work
- equality in sexual conduct and morals
- benefits to provide for widows with children
- equality in the franchise
- equal recognition of mothers as guardians
- equal access to the legal profession
64
The Suffragists
In 1866, the first petition to give women the right to vote was presented to parliament. Following its failure to extend the franchise to women, a variety of movements across the country were created, beginning with the Manchester Society for Women’s Suffrage. he NUWSS was an internally democratic group with members electing their president and decisions being made through elected committees. Most of the members were middle class and would usually campaign for other women’s rights issues, such as marriage rights and employment rights. Anyone could join the NUWSS and some men did join the group.
65
The methods of the NUWSS were peaceful, looking to apply pressure to politicians and the public through persuasion. Their activities tended to involve:
- writing letters
- writing pamphlets and other material for publication
- giving educational lectures
- organising petitions
- holding peaceful marches and protests
66
The Suffragettes
The Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) was nicknamed the ‘Suffragettes’. The organisation was founded by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters, Christabel and Sylvia, in 1903. It was initially based in Manchester and drew much of its support from working-class women, though it started to recruit more middle- and upper-class women when it moved to London in 1906.
67
Aims of the suffragettes
- to secure equal voting rights for women
- to have a female-only membership
- to be a group of deeds or action, not words
- to focus only on the issue of political equality and nothing else
68
methods of the suffragettes
- disrupting political party meetings
- chaining themselves to public railings
- smashing windows
- attacking or fighting police officers
- blowing up buildings
- burning buildings
- destroying letters in post boxes
- going on hunger strike in prison
69
Things 16 year olds can legally do
- give full consent to medical treatment
- leave school and enter work
- pay income tax and national insurance
- Obtain tax credits and welfare benefits in their own right
- Consent to social relationships
- Get married
- Change their name by deed poll
- Become director of a company
- Joined the armed forces
- Become a member of a trade union or a cooperative society
70
Impact of the vote for 16 campaign
The campaign to extend the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds has been gaining strength, with 16 local councils, the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Irish Assembly all voting to support votes at 16, while repeated debates and motions in parliament show that the number of MPs and peers supporting the extension is rising, though still not at a majority.
71
Yes there is a participatio crisis factors
- Electoral participation
- Party Membership
- The end of corporatism
72
Problems with low election
- This raises the question of legitimacy of elected officials.
- Low turnout can allow small extremist parties to gain a larger share of the vote, raise their profile and even obtain representation.
- It also leads to a lack of accountability, as politicians do not need to fear an electorate that does not turn out to hold them to account.
73
Problems with low membership
- It shows a lack of participation in the political process.
- It also means there is a much more limited choice of candidates to put up for election at all levels.
74
Corporatism
Corporatism refers to the process of ‘incorporating’ different groups into the workings of government.
75
The end of corporatism
Thatcher weakened the power of the trade union movement and reduced the role of key economic groups, such as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), in working closely in the processes of government.
-The result of this has been a decline in the power of group activity, particularly in trade union activity, and a decline in participation, as well as union membership.
76
No theres is not a participation crisis
- Increasing Turnout
- More parties
- pressure group membership
- social campaigns
77
Increasing turnout
Since 2001, general election turnout has been increasing in the UK, suggesting that people are increasingly engaging and participating. The very high levels of turnout in the Scottish independence referendum and the EU referendum show that when opinion is divided, and the issue is one that people care about, they will engage and vote.
78
More parties
- The UK now has 11 parties represented in parliament, with a sizeable third party and a far greater range of manifestos to choose from.
- With more parties, there is a wider spread of party membership.
79
Pressure group membership
The largest pressure groups have memberships in the millions and there are thousands of groups operating across the UK, which shows that the public are still finding ways to participate in group activities. Rather than there being a participation crisis, the nature of participation has changed.
80
Social campaigns
The internet and social media have provided a means for more people to participate in campaigns and to share information. In the past, getting people to sign a petition, raising awareness through a protest or vigil, or holding a mass rally, took time, effort and a lot of organisation. By making it easier and cheaper to get involved in campaigns, more people have the opportunity to participate in a way that suits them.
81
Pressure groups
organisations that usually have a single interest or goal.
82
Pressure groups vs political parties
-Unlike political parties, pressure groups do not look to gain power, but want to influence those in power by generating public support and persuading the government to support their point of view.
83
Two types of pressure groups
- sectional
- casual
84
Sectional groups
Sectional groups look after their own section of society. Often these are professional associations, like the British Medical Association (BMA) or a trade union such as the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT).
85
What do sectional groups act on the best interets of
Sectional groups act in the best interests of their members, usually trying to pressure those in power to get the best deal possible for their members. While sectional groups may campaign on a number of issues, their interest is with the benefit of a single section of society.
86
Casual groups
Causal groups campaign for a particular cause or issue, often one
that does not directly affect its members. Causal groups are therefore campaigning on behalf of other people — usually those who are unable to campaign for themselves.
87
Causal groups aim to
Causal groups often aim to improve society in some way and may take the form of a charity, such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) or Oxfam.
88
Insider and outsider status
Insider groups have a special relationship with the government and are given access to officials and decision-makers. Outsider groups do not have such close links with the government and may resort to activities that generate attention from the press in order to publicise their cause and put pressure on the government to take the action they desire.
89
Pressure group methods
- lobbying
- research and publish reports
- give evidence at hearings
- organise publicity campaigns
- orgainse public demonstrations
- publicity stunts
- civil disobedience
- go on strike
- use a celebrity spokesperson
- bring test cases to court
- Digital campaigns
90
Lobbying
Groups meet with politicians and civil servants in order to argue their case and try to persuade them to adopt their ideas.
91
Motivations for joining a political group
- Represntation
- Personal beliefs
- Participation
- Material beliefs
- Need
92
Reasons for pressure groups success
- Insider status
- Wealth
- Large membership
- Organisation
- Expertise
- Celebrity Endorsement
93
Example insider status
In 2014, the Howard League for Penal Reform successfully campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them by family or friends.
94
Example Wealth
In 2012, the British Bankers’ Association paid lobbyists to persuade ministers to cut corporation tax and taxes on banks’ overseas subsidiaries.
95
A number of factors limit the success of a pressure group including:
- Chequebook membership — people may join a group for the material benefits and so be less likely to get involved in a campaign.
- ‘Slacktivism’— people may be willing to click ‘like’ or forward an online post, but they may have no more than a superficial engagement with the issue, making them less committed to a campaign.
- Small membership — limited numbers can make it difficult to organise public demonstrations, raise funds or gain media attention.
- Outsider status — being an outsider can make it much more challenging for a group to gain access to the people in power.
96
Reasons for failure
- the goal contradicts a government policy
- the government can resist prssure from the group
- countervailing forces
- the goal of the groups act against popular opinion
- the group alienates the public
97
Other-organisations
- Think-tanks
- Lobbyists
- Corporations
98
Think tanks
- A think-tank is a group that has been formed with the specific purpose of formulating and developing policy ideas.
- The role of developing policy was traditionally done by the parties, but think-tanks offer an alternative that is based on focused and academic research rather than partisan ideals.
- Think-tanks may be single issue groups
- Think-tanks are privately funded by a group or individual that wishes to have workable ideas made into government policy.
99
Lobbyists
- In the 1870s, the US President Ulysses Grant would often visit his favourite hotel for a drink. When he entered the lobby, people would begin petitioning him for jobs and favours. He called them the ‘lobbyists’ and the term stuck.
100
Corporations
- Corporations often work closely with government in order to develop practical legislation. Government consults corporations on certain policy ideas to check that they are practical and also to get help to implement key proposals.
- Corporations also look to exert pressure on those in charge in order to gain an advantage. While this may be through lobbying themselves, or employing lobbyists, corporations are also able to exert influence and pressure through control of a key sector of the economy.
101
what are rights
Human rights, sometimes known as ‘natural rights’, are those rights and liberties that all people are automatically entitled to.
102
Human rights are:
- absolute
- universal
- fundamental
103
absolute rights
meaning they cannot be compromised or diminished in any way
104
universal rights
meaning they are applied to everyone equally, regardless of any other considerations, such as race or gender
105
Fundamental rights
meaning they are an essential part of life and cannot be
removed for any reason
106
Postive rights
Positive rights are clearly given to a citizen, usually in the form of a constitutional protection.
107
Negative rights
Negative rights are not explicitly set out and only exist because of an absence of any law banning them.
108
Civil responsibilties
Along with rights, British citizens are given a number of key responsibilities. Although not often written down, these are duties which a citizen is expected to perform or abide by, in return for the rights and liberties that have being granted.
109
Civil responsibilties include
- respect and obey the law
- pay taxes
- ensure you do not act in a way that causes harm to others, either deliberately or negligently
- perform specific duties in certain relationships, such as parents or public figures
- show respect for parliament and government institutions (such as the police)
- vote
- serve on a jury
110
Arguments in favour of individual rights
- ensures protection from government abuse
- leads to civil responsibilites
- necessary for a free society
111
Argument against inididual rights
- can come at th expense of wider society
- can hinder the efective operation of government
112
significant conflicts between judiciary and the government over rights protection
- anti-terrorism
- deportation
- detention
- free speech and the right to protest
- anti-social behaviour
113
Who can defend rights better?
With the growing rights consciousness in the UK, the issue of whether the judiciary, the government or parliament is best placed to defend citizens’ fundamental rights is one that needs serious consideration.
114
pressure groups and rights
These groups raise awareness of threats to civil rights, promote the application of rights and put pressure on the government to ensure rights are protected.
115
What could be done to improve democracy in the UK?
- Compulsory voting
- Reform of the voting system
- Reform of the house of lords
- greater recall of MPs
- Reform of the house of commons
- Reforming the develved system
- Reform of the monarchy
- Codifying the constitution
- E-Democracy
116
Burkean representation
Edmund Burke was an eighteenth- century MP and political writer who proclaimed a trustee model of representation. For Burke, the job of a representative was to make judgements in the best interests
of their constituents, not simply to do what they wanted them to do.
117
E-democracy
E-democracy refers to any electronic or digital method used to enhance democracy.
118
Types of e-democracy
- online voting
- online questioning of ministers
- digital campaigning
- online public constitution of a bill
119
Online voting advantages
Would make it easier for people to vote
120
Online voting disadvantages
Would be difficult to monitor and ensure free votes
121
Online questioning of ministers advantages
Would allow people to ask questions directly
122
Online questioning of ministers disadvantages
Would undermine the role of MPs
123
Digital campaigning advantages
Would reduce costs and make it easier for people to access information
124
Digital campaigning disadvantages
Would disadvantage people unable to get online and risk increased partisanship
125
Online public consultation of a bill advantages
Would allow the public
to give their thoughts on legislation before it is passed
126
Online public consultation of a bill disadvanatges
Would undermine the legislative role of parliament and risk a tyranny of the minority
