Chapter 1 Democracy and participation

Question 1

Define Representative democracy.

Answer 1

A form of democracy in which voters elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf. These representatives are then held accountable to the public in regular elections.

Question 2

Within representative democracy what is the role of an elected politician?

Answer 2

They should weigh up the feelings of their constituents with their parties manifesto and their own judgment.

Question 3

How many MPs in the UK parliament?

Answer 3

650

Question 4

What are some advantages of representative democracy?

Answer 4

• Professional politicians who are well informed about political issues therefore more likely to make educated decisions
• Balance conflicting interests when coming to a decision (protect minority interests unlike DD)
• Principle of accountability, regular elections where the public can decide whether or not to renew their mandate

Question 5

What are some disadvantages of Rep Dec

Answer 5

• MPs can become disengaged from their constituents
• Media and Lobbyists and MPs in a ‘Westminster bubble’
• Outside interests (second jobs)
• Due to FPTP the UK has a rigid two party system
• MPs are not fully representative of class, race and gender
• HOL is not elected and therefore unaccountable

Question 6

2017 election

• Ethnic minority %
• Female %
• LGBT %
• Privately educated %

Answer 6

• Ethnic 8%
• Female 32%
• LGBT 7%
• Privately educated 29%

Question 7

Define Direct Democracy

Answer 7

A form of democracy in which citizens themselves, rather than their representatives, make political decisions. The most significant modern example of DD is a referendum.

Question 8

Define legitimacy

Answer 8

legitimate authority means power that has been legally acquired and is exercised according to the rule of law. A dictator can claim power but not legitimate power.

Question 9

Why do some people criticise RP based on turnout.

Answer 9

It can be argued that there is political disengagement within RP, politics needs to become more relevant. Only a 68.7% turnout in the 2017 election - lack of legitimacy.

Question 10

Define Referendum and an example

Answer 10

Majoritarian form of Democracy in which the public votes on a single issue. The side which gains over 50% of the vote wins.
E.g - 2014 Scottish independence
2016 UK membership of EU

Question 11

Define Electronic Petitions and give example

Answer 11

If a petition on gov.com gets 100,000 signatures ti will be considered for debate in the house - it does not force legislation.
E.g - A second referendum
Meningitis B vaccination for all children

Question 12

Definition Consultive exercises

Answer 12

These can be set up when governing bodies want to assess the likely reaction to their proposed policies.
E.g HS2

Question 13

Open Primaries

Answer 13

A small number of constituencies have opted to select parliament candidates trough open primaries, in which the public directly decide whom the candidate should be.
E.g Totnes 2009

Question 14

Define Election of the leadership of political parties

Answer 14

All the main political parties now allow their membership to decide whom the leader of their party will be. This is a significant power since it may determine whom the PM will be.

Question 15

What is the Recall of MPs act 2015

Answer 15

Allows constituents to force by-elections

E.g 2019 Chris Davies (conservative) Brecon and Radnorshire - resulted in by-election

Question 16

Cons of DD

Answer 16

• the public are not always sufficiently well informed
• too much influence to political activists
• can have a destabilising affect MPs vs public
• it is not practical for making quick decisions and voting on every piece of legislation is unworkable.

Question 17

Define Participation crisis

Answer 17

A point at which the public has become disengaged from politics and voting levels have fallen so low that the legitimacy of elected govt’s can be questioned.

Question 18

Memberships of political parties has dropped however …

Answer 18

this does not indicate a participation crisis as many floating voters will not identify strongly enough with one party to join as a member. Labour party membership has also grew under Jeremy Corbyn - radical leader gains support.

Question 19

Define Democratic Deficit

Answer 19

When democracy is not functioning because there is a lack of accountability among politicians and political bodies as well as the citizens not being given equal influence over decisions.

Question 20

arguments against devolution

Answer 20

• Turnout has fallen in Wales, Scotland and NI since their assembly’s/parliaments creation.
• Mayoral elections also only receive small turnouts

Question 21

What year and what were the results of the FPTP vs AV referendum

Answer 21

2011 - 67.9% in favour of NOT replacing FPTP

Question 22

Problems with PR

Answer 22

• Make coalition governments more likely (cannot fulfil manifesto)
• Radical minority parties
• The UK is not a multi-party democracy - most people will only vote for Labour or Conservative

Question 23

What was the combined vote share of Labour and Conservatives in 2015 and 2017 and how does this show that the UK is not a multiparty democracy?

Answer 23

2015 - 67.3%

2017 - 82.4%

Question 24

Define Franchise/Suffrage

Answer 24

The right to vote. The Uk has a universal suffrage. All men and women over 18 can vote in elections as long as they are not mentally incapacitated, in prison or sit in the HOL.

Question 25

Date of the Magna Carta

Answer 25

1215

Question 26

In what year and by who were the suffragists founded?

Answer 26

1897 by Millicent Fawcett

Question 27

What year and by who were the suffragettes founded

Answer 27

1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst

Question 28

Representation of the People Act:

and date

Answer 28

1918

All men over 21 and all women over 30 who owned property could vote

Question 29

further representation of the Peoples act:

Date

Answer 29

1928

All men and women over 21

Question 30

3rd Representation of the peoples act:

Date

Answer 30

1969

Lowered voting age to 18

Question 31

Votes at 16 Coalition

Answer 31

Established in 2003

campaigns for the rights of 16 year olds to vote.

Question 32

Define pluralist democracy

Answer 32

political influence is dispersed around a variety of elected and non-elected bodies

Question 33

What is a sectional/interest pressure group

Answer 33

They represent the interests of a particular group within society.
E.g Muslim council of Britain
National Union of Students (NUS)

Question 34

What is a Case/promotional pressure group

Answer 34

Promote a particular cause and members can be drawn from all parts of society.
E.g Greenspace

Question 35

What is an Insider pressure group

Answer 35

They have privileged access to gov’t decision making. They often have access to information that government wants to get a hold of, for example the BMA.

Question 36

What is an outsider pressure group

Answer 36

they do not have access to political decision making therefore they gain influence in other ways. They will gain public support in order to put pressure on politicians.
E.g The Gurkha Justice campaign

Question 37

Action for Smoking and Health (ASH)

Answer 37

established in 1971

• Banned smoking in enclosed workplaces, pubs and restaurants
• Plain packaging
• Facilitated by research by the BMA - 2014 ban on smoking in cars containing children HOC 376 - 107