9 Markers Flashcards
Explain and analyse three ways in which the media can have an influence upon the
outcome of elections.
1 - shape voters’ opinions of the leaders and parties (Cor-Bin 2019)
2 - reinforces existing preferences - Selective perception and selective retention - 2017 17% of Daily Mail readers voted Labour
3 - opinion polls - ‘bandwagon’ and
‘boomerang’ effects - Labour currently 20 points ahead
Explain and analyse three ways in which the Official Opposition can challenge the
government in the House of Commons.
1 - opportunities via oral and written questions - PMQs
2 - no confidence - Government defeats are rare but do occur (1979) - can indirectly bring a government down (2022 and 2019)
3 - select committees - scrutinising policy, holding hearings and suggesting improvements
Explain and analyse three ways in which judicial independence is upheld in the UK.
1 - separation of powers - UK Supreme
Court and the removal of the role of the Lord Chancellor’s significant roles in all three branches of
government
2 - security of tenure - open-ended term, limited only age
3 - guaranteed salaries - Consolidated Fund
Explain and analyse three influences upon individual MPs when voting in the House of
Commons
1 - mandate theory - MPs are
elected on the basis of party manifesto pledges rather than their own personalities
2 - Burkean or trustee model - MPs are responsible for acting on
behalf of the best interests of constituents and may use their own judgement
3 - delegate model - follow clear
instructions given by constituents - , a fifth of Labour MPs defied
the three-line whip and voted against the Brexit Bill at Second Reading Feb 2017
Explain and analyse three circumstances under which referendums have been held in the UK.
1 - coalition agreement - AV referendum 2011
2 - attempt to settle divisions - European Union membership referendum 2016
3 - due to political pressure - 2014 Scottish independence referendum
Explain and analyse three ways in which collective responsibility has come under
pressure since 1979.
1 - leaks - Theresa May ordered her ministers to stop leaking
details of cabinet discussions over Brexit policy 2017
2 - can be formally set aside - 2016 EU referendum campaign
3 - MPs may ignore it - Boris Johnson said he’d ask for £5 billion extra to be spent on the NHS before a cabinet meeting
Explain and analyse three long-term factors, other than class, that can influence voting behaviour.
1 - gender - women traditionally conservative voters, now Labour - 51% of women voted Remain in
2016 EU referendum while 55% of men voted Leave
2 - age - 2016 EU referendum - over 70% of 18-24 year olds voting for Remain compared to 40% of those over 65
3 - BAME - 77% of BAME voters voted
Labour in the 2017 election compared to 37% of white voters
Explain and analyse the significance of three sources of the British constitution
1 - statute law - Human Rights Act 1998
2 - common law - Miller 1 case
3 - convention - PM must come from the House of Commons - Salisbury convention
Explain and analyse three ways in which pressure groups seek to influence government policy.
1 -
2 -
3 -
