Chapter 1:Democracy and Participation

Question 1

Direct Democracy

Answer 1

A from of democracy where the people themselves make key decisions.In modern societies this usually takes the form of holding referendums

Question 2

Representative Democracy

Answer 2

A from of democracy where the people elect or somehow choose representatives who make political decisions on their behalf

Question 3

Accountability

Answer 3

This means that those who have been elected in a representative democracy must be made responsible fro their policies,actions decisions and general conduct.
NO ACCOUNTABILITY=REPRESENTATION BECOMES LARGELY MEANINGLESS

Question 4

Redress of Grievances

Answer 4

The practice,adopted by many elected representatives of taking up the case of an individual constituent who feels the have suffered an injustice usually at the hands of the government.

Question 5

Manifesto

Answer 5

A statement of party agreed policies produced during and election to inform the public about the political platform upon which its candidates are standing

Question 6

Decentralisation

Answer 6

The process of spreading power away from the central government towards devolved governments in the national regions and to local governments

Question 7

Mandate

Answer 7

The principle operating in the UK whereby a party that has been elected to government has the authority of the electorate to carry out its manifesto commitments

Question 8

Democratic Deficit

Answer 8

any situation in which there is believed to be a lack of democratic accountability and control over the decision-making process

Question 9

Pluralism/Pluralist Democracy

Answer 9

The view that in liberal democracies power is dispersed among a variety of economic and ideological pressure groups and is not ( held by a single elite or group of elites.

Question 10

Elitism

Answer 10

A description of a society or political system where power and influence are concentrated in the hands of few people and organisations.

Question 11

Lobbying

Answer 11

An activity commonly used by pressure groups to promote causes and interests. form of advocacy with the intention of influencing decisions made by the government by individuals or more usually by lobby groups;

Question 12

Hyperpluralism

Answer 12

A modern phenomenon describing the rapid growth in the number of interest and campaign groups operating in modern democracies
The growth in numbers and influence of such groups makes government extremely difficult

Question 13

Groups politics

Answer 13

A term that refers to the idea that political decision making involves mediating between the competing demands of different groups
Also implies that different groups have open access to decision making individuals

Question 14

Think Tank

Answer 14

An organisation whose role is to undertake research into various aspects of public policy

Question 15

Civil Liberties

Answer 15

The rights and freedoms enjoyed by citizens which protect them from unfair and arbitrary treatment by the state and government
Sometimes referred to as civil rights

Question 16

Common Law

Answer 16

Traditional Conceptions of how disputes should be settled and what rights individuals have