Accountability

Question 1

Topic sentence + background

Answer 1

Lastly, another aspect of democracy is accountability which means that the government is held accountable to the electorate

Voting was unfair in 1850 as legislation passed by elected MPs in the House of Commons could be vetoed in the House of Lords.

Question 2

Evidence 1

Answer 2

The Corruption and Illegal practices act was past in 1883 which held the government more accountable of their actions as if a candidate breached the laws, they were disqualified from standing as a candidate for seven years.

Question 3

Analysis 1

Answer 3

This led to Britain becoming more democratic because it meant that the government was held more accountable as MPs could only run in elections if they had not broken the law, meaning that there was less corruption in the political system.

Question 4

Evidence 1 continue

Answer 4

Additionally, the 1883 Corruption and Illegal practices act stated that active involvement in corruption was punishable by a fine or imprisonment.

Question 5

Analysis of evidence 1 continue

Answer 5

This led to Britain becoming more democratic as it reduced corruption in Parliament and reduced the power of the wealthy upper class.

Question 6

Evidence 2

Answer 6

Additionally, the 1911 Parliament act reduce the power of the House of Lords, a hereditary house where MPs were unelected.

Question 7

Analysis 2

Answer 7

This led to Britain becoming more democratic because it removed the Lords power over bills which concerned taxation and government spending.

Question 8

Counter analysis if I don’t do evidence 2

Answer 8

However, it could be argued that the accountability hallmark still wasn’t fully achieved as the government still wasn’t held accountable to the electorate because general elections still weren’t introduced

Question 9

Counter analysis

Answer 9

However, the existence of the unelected House of Lords in itself is undemocratic because MP’s within the house are not elected by the public. Only in recent have the rights of hereditary peers been removed.

Question 10

Evaluation

Answer 10

To evaluate, the hallmark of accountability had been fully addressed by 1911 as the power of the house of lords had been limited and corruption and bribery was made illegal. Additionally, the 1911 parliament act stated that general elections were to be held every 5 years which meant that changes were more frequent within the government.