8.Democracy and Participation Flashcards
Representative democracy - advantage - the work is carried out by professionals allowing well-informed decision making
Cabinet ministers have access to the civil service who specialise in research and can help direct MPs on where change is needed and how to. This access to experts allows them to make well-informed decisions
Representative democracy - advantage - prevents the tyranny of the majority
By MP’s making decisions on behalf of the public it helps to protect the rights of minorities in the UK. For example, in 2013 royal assent was granted to the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act with the first one taking place in 2014.
Representative democracy - advantage - can hold to account through re-elections
Recall elections created in 2015 allow constituents to petition for a by-election if an MP commits a serious crime. For example, in 2019 the Peterborough seat voted for a different Labour MP after the previous one had been convicted of perverting the course of justice.
Representative democracy - disadvantage - some MPs are corrupt
The expense claims scandal in 2009 was where MPs were exposed for the misuse of public funds such as Tory MP Peter Viggers claiming over £1,500 for a duck house. However, Cameron forced him to stand down in the 2010 election.
Representative democracy - disadvantage - FPTP makes Westminister unrepresentative
2015 UKIP received 12.6% of the vote but only 1 seat. The Conservatives won over 50% of the seats with 36.8% of the votes.
Representative democracy - disadvantage - the social makeup of parliament is not reflective of society
As of 2019 34% of MPs are women compared to 51% of the country. However, the number of female MPs has consistently risen since 2001
As of 2019 10% of MPs are BAME compared to 18% of the country. However, the number of BAME MPs has consistently risen since 1997
Form of representation - social
Successful - In 2020 there were 56 MPs who were openly LGBTQ which is with 3.1% of the UK population identifying as LGBTQ in 2020. This means around 9% of MPs
Women are becoming increasingly prominent taking up higher positions in the cabinet as well as LGBTQ people are being active in the Commons. As of 2019 34% of MPs are women compared to 51% of the country. The current PM is BAME.
Not successful - Parliament is typically white older men which is not reflective of the make-up of society. The current MP wasn’t chosen by the public only society. (House of Lords a better point)
Form of representation - constituency
Successful - Sarah Green the Lib Dem MP for Amersham was elected based on her rejecting HS2 despite the Lib dem party supporting it.
Not successful - in 2017 Kensington was won by Labour with only 150 votes so the majority of the constituency didn’t vote for them. Therefore more people didn’t vote for Labour so the majority missed out.
2015 election SDLP won the Belfast South constituency with only 25% of the vote
Forms of representation - party representation
Successful - All conservatives on the day voted in favour of the Welfare Cap 2022 which would limit the gov’s expenditure on benefits.
Not successful - EU Withdrawl Agreement 2018 - Theresa May’s government was defeated in January 2019 by 432 votes the biggest defeat of a UK government in British history. In March 2019 a modified deal was again defeated and a thrid attempt again in March.
Direct democracy - advantage - the purest form of democracy
People are actively using their voices to vote how they feel, and have the option to spoil their ballot if they have no opinion or wish to protest
AV referendum 2011 - showed people were content with FPTP and didn’t feel a need for change.
EU referendum 2016
Direct democracy - advantage - avoids delay and deadlock within the political system
Brexit was a controversial issue so by giving it to the public the politicians weren’t making such a big decision for us, allows more controversial votes to be made quickly but can lead to divisions within society
Direct democracy - advatnage - legitimiate
Scottish devolution referendum in 1997 showed the high support for them getting devolved powers making it clear this is what the public wanted with 74% saying yes
Direct democracy - disadvantage - some issues can be too complex for the ordinary citizens
AVS referendum 2011, Lib Dems pushed for it, lacked media attention leading to a turnout of 42% as few people understand what they were voting for and what it meant, disadvantaged the bigger parties so they wouldn’t advocate for it
Direct democracy - disadvantage - tyranny of the majority whereby the winning majority ignore the interest of the minority
2014 Scottish independence referendum saw 55% remain majority
Direct democracy - disadvantage - people may be too easily swayed by short-term, emotional appeals by charismatic individuals
Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage played on peoples emotions and overstated the damage of immigration, while the underlying economic benefits of being in the EU fell by the wayside in the debate.
A UKIP was We want our country back. Vote Leave
List the 5 different types of direct democracy
Referendums
Electronic petitions
Election of the leadership of political parties
Party membership
Recall of MPs Act 2015
The UK is suffering from a participation crisis - yes - fall in voter turnout to general elections
2001 general election more people in the UK voted for Gareth Gates/Will Young in Pop Idol final than in the General Election (59% voted in the election)
Voter turnout has never been above 70% since the 1997 election and was at its lowest in 2001
The UK is suffering from a participation crisis - yes - party membership
-UK party membership has fallen from over 4% of the electorate being a member of a party in 1980 to a low of under 1% in 2010
The UK is suffering from a participation crisis - yes - Digital democracy
-Pressure groups like 38 Degrees been criticised for substituting an easy mouse-click for genuine political commitment with its claim to have over 2.5 million members
-Fails to much genuine commitment to a cause
The UK is suffering from a participation crisis - no - high turnout in important elections
1979 Thatcher challenging Callaghan’s ‘winter of discontent’
71.4% turnout
Voter turnout since 2001 has been steadily rising up to 68.7% in 2017
The UK is suffering from a participation crisis - no - party membership is high
SNP in 2014 calimed to have over 100,000 members with the population of Scotland being just over 5 million
The UK is suffering from a participation crisis - no - high pressure group membership
Groups that have a large membership possess greater legitimacy than those that do not and mean that governments are more likely to consult them e.g. RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) has around 1.2 million members
UK democracy requires further improvement - yes - devolution
Encourages greater participation and helps lessen the debate for Scotland becoming independent by devolving more powers to them.
UK democracy requires further improvement - yes - digital democracy
Facilitating voting and encouraging electronic political discussion will encourage greater political engagement and higher turnout
UK democracy requires further improvement - yes - reform of electoral voting system
A proportional system would make a fairer connection between the votes a party recieves and its representation in Parliament
Claims it discouarges voting because it limits voter choice to the main two parties
E.g. in 2015 Consertaive and Labour recived 67.3% of the toal vote but 86% of seats
UK democracy requires further improvement - yes - electronic petitions
They have given the public more control over what Parliament discusses.
They have led to important debates of legalising cannabis, and extending the menniginties B vaccine to all children
They should be made more powerful by automatically triggering a parliamentary vote making parliament more accountable
UK democracy requires further improvement - no - devolution
Turnout for devolved assembly elections is significantly lower than the Westminister Parliament and has been declining
Scotland 1999 - 59.1%
2016 - 55.6%
Northern Ireland 1998 - 69.8%
2016 - 54.9%
A lack of enthusiamsm for an English Parliamentand when in 2004 the North Eat were given the opportunity to have their own assembly 78% who turnout voted against it.
UK democracy requires further improvement - no - digital democracy
Just introduced the law as of 2023 where photo ID is required to vote to prevent corruption and others voting on your behalf. If people can then vote online the chance of voting no longer being secret and being manipulated will increase.
The UK also has postal voting already so if people cannot attend or don’t want to attend in person there are already other alternatives.
Allegations of cyber-interference in Western elections by Russia indicate that electronic voting is more open to fraud than traditional means
UK democracy requires further improvement - no - FPTP doesn’t need to change
In 2011 the public voted to be not in favour of reforming the system as 67.9% who turnout voted against it
Proportional representation would lead to more coalition governments making it harder to fulfil party manifestos
In 2017 more people voted for Conservative and Labour since any general election since 1970. Between them, they got 82% of the vote and 89% of the seats
UK democracy requires further improvement - no - electronic petitions
By triggering a vote it would make Parliament bogged down in unconstitutional and impractical debates
Some of the most popular e-petitions were about banning Trump’s entry into the UK which lies with the Home Secretaries responsibility, not Westminister
Voting in the UK should be compulsory - yes - political apathy is a problem
In 2017 voter turnout was 69% whereas in 1992 it was 78%. A limited number of people voting can reduce the legitimacy of the result especially when turnout falls below 50% like the 2011 AV referendum
Voting in the UK should be compulsory - yes - those not voting are among the poorest and ethnic minorities
D&E voter, you people and ethnic minorities. This means political decisions are made up of wealthier and older voters. Compulsory voting would mean politicians would have to respond to all shades of political opinions
Voting in the UK should be compulsory - yes - educates people allowing them to express their voice
People will become more aware of their political choices which help to educate society.
Voting in the UK should be compulsory - no - random voting would damage legitimacy
If people are forced to turn out they may not educate themselves and instead spoil their ballot paper or tick a random box which would damage the integrity of elections.
Voting in the UK should be compulsory - no - it is a right that is optional to exercise
It is up to politicians to mobilise support and enthusiasm encouraging people to turn out and vote. Therefore, compulsory voting could remove the incentive for politicians to engage with the public
Voting in the UK should be compulsory - no - not voting allows people to express them being discontent with the choices on offer
Only 25% of the electorate voted for police commissioners in 2016, which may indicate that voters regard the post as insignificant. Forcing the public to vote for a choice they disagree with is an infringement on freedom of association
