Chapter 9-Democracy And Political Participation Flashcards
What is democracy?
A system where power is held by the people
What is direct democracy?
A system where the people are able to make decisions directly on an issue usually in form of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response
What is representative democracy?
A system where the people elect a person or group of people to represent their interests and make decisions on their behalf
What are the different forms that democracy can take ?
Liberal democracy Majoritarian democracy Parliamentary democracy Presidential democracy Direct democracy Representative democracy
What are the functions of democracy?
Representation Accountability Participation Power dispersal Legitimacy Education
What are the arguments in favour of direct democracy?
- A pure form of democracy
- increased legitimacy
- improves participation
- increases public engagement
- improves political education
- it works - countries like Switzerland regularly use
What are the arguments against direct democracy?
It is not practical Tyranny of the majority Undermined elected representatives Low turnouts Emotional responses Populist outcomes
What are positive aspects of democracy in the uk?
Free and fair elections Turnout Universal suffrage The party system Pressure groups parliamentary sovereignty Devolution
How is free and fair elections a positive aspect of democracy?
Free from government manipulation because they are conducted by the Electoral commission.
Laws in place about campaigning in and around ballot stations
Spending limits and a ban on campaigning during the period of purdah
How is turnout a positive aspect of democracy?
Turnout has been steadily increasing since a historic low of 59% in 2001
Turnout at Scottish referendum was 84.6% and at the EU referendum 72%
How is universal suffrage a positive aspect of democracy?
All votes are equal in value and there is no distinction based on gender, wealth, race and class
How is the party system a positive aspect of democracy?
Number of parties have grown currently there are .. parties represented in House of Commons
- parties drive public education and raise profile of political issues
How are pressure groups a positive aspect of democracy?
Provide an alternative avenue of representation
Provides a mouthpiece for any minority interest
Investigate issues, raise public awareness, help develop government policies
What are negative aspect of democracy in the uk ?
Unelected elements Turnout The West Lothian question and EVEL The voting system Lack of meaningful Chou e Elitist pressure groups Weaknesses of the electoral commission Lack of entrenched rights
What are the flaws of the FPTP system?
- Wasted votes
- Safe seats
- unrepresentative
- winners bonus
- discriminates against parties with widespread support
- minority constituencies
- two party system
Why do pressure groups not compete on an equal footing?
- insider status
- size of membership
- wealth
- public profile
How is the electoral commission weak?
Often reactive rather than proactive
Tends to pass judgment and sanctions after an event meaning message has already had its impact
What is the franchise?
The right to vote in elections
What did the Great reform act 1832 do?
Before 1832 the right to vote was based on the amount of land owned, essentially limiting it to members of the upper class. Industrial revolution led to rise of the middle class who contributed more to the economy than land owning aristocracy Showed reform was possible and demonstrated how future groups might be able to persuade parliament to make further changes
What did The representation of the people act 1918 do?
Extended the franchise to all women over 30 as well as all men over 21 giving some degree of female enfranchisement and full universal suffrage to adult men
Due to new jobs for women and changes or marriage law plus role of women in the war
What did the representation of the people act 1928 do?
Extended franchise to all citizens over the age of 21
What did the representation of the people act 1969 do ?
Anyone over the age of 18 could vote
What did the suffragists do?
- Membership was open to all
- organisation was internally democratic
- used peaceful methods of protest
- tried to work with the government
- organisation had a national network of committees
What did the suffragettes do?
Membership was open to women only
- organisation run by the Pankhurst with no involvement of members
- used violent and illegal methods of protest
- tried to intimidate the government
- organisation was centred around London
What current moves are their to extend the franchise?
Prisoners and the right to vote
Extending the franchise to 16 year olds
What are the traditional methods of participation ?
- voting
- joining a party and helping it to campaign
- joining a pressure group
- organising or signing a petition
- going on a March or strike
- writing a letter
- standing for public office
What are modern developments in participation?
- e-petitions
- blogging
- protesting on social media
- organising a demonstration via social media
Is there a participation crisis?
Yes
Electoral participation- turnout from 1946 to 1992 was usually above 75% and reached 84% in 1950
In 2001 was 59% and hasn’t been above 70%
Things get even worse at national level
Party membership- in 1950s labour had over 1 million members and conservative has 2.8 million
March 2017 con- 150,00
Labour -500,000
End of corporatism trade Union decline
Is there a participation crisis?
No
Increasing turnout
More parties
Pressure group membership
Social campaigns
What are sectional groups?
Sectional groups advance or protect the interests of their members
Have closed membership
Tend to be motivated by self interest
What are casual groups?
Tend to promote a value, ideal or principle
Are open to all
Members tend to be motivated by altruistic considerations
What methods do pressure groups use?
Lobby Research and publish reports Give evidence at hearings Organise publicity campaigns Organise public demonstrations Publicity stunts Civil disobedience Go on strike Use a celebrity spokesperson Bring test cases to court Digital campaigns
why do people join pressure groups?
Representation personal beliefs participation material benefits need
why might need be a motivation for joining a political party?
some people may join becayse they feel they have to either for job protection by joining a trade union or because they see it as the only way to achieve a desired goal
why might material benefits be a motivation for joining a political party?
Many people join a pressure group in order to get something out of it. people who take out breakdown cover will become a member of the AA while people wishing to visit historic buildings may join the national trust
what reasons are there for pressure group success?
Insider status wealth Large membership organisation expertise celeberity endorsement
Why might insider status be a reason for pressure group success and can you give a example?
having close links to the government, insider pressure groups are able to advise and influence ministers directly as events are happening
In 2014 the howard league for penal reform successfully campaigned to end the ban on prisoners receiving books sent to them by family or friends
Why might Wealth be a reason for pressure group success and can you give a example?
Financial resources allow pressure groups to pay for things that may help promote their cause such as lobbyists, adverts and websites
In 2012 the British Bankers’ association paid lobbyists to persuade ministers to cut corporation tax and taxes on banks’ overseas subsidies
Why might large membership be a reason for pressure group success and can you give a example?
Having a lot of members means you control a large section of the electorate and also have a number of people ready to take action in terms of signing petitions and organising protests
In 2015 the RSPB utilised over 500,000 members for its big garden birdwatch
Why might organisation be a reason for pressure group success and can you give a example?
effective management and coordination will allow a group to maximise its resources and target them effectively to help achieve its goals
In 2012 the RMT union organised a series of strikes to secure a bonus for members during the olympics
Why might expertise be a reason for pressure group success and can you give a example?
a pressure group has knowledge or particular expertise over a certain policy area is more likely to be listened to and respected by the government
In 2016 the AA provided evidence and statistics to persuade the government to increase the penalties for using mobile phone while driving
Why might Celebrity endorsement be a reason for pressure group success and can you give a example?
A popular celebrity will generate press interest and raise the profile of a cause and may help draw members to the group
Joanna Lumley 2013 Ghurka Justice campaign secured equal rights for british and commonwealth soldiers
What can limit the success of a pressure group?
- cheque book membership
- Slaktivism
- small membership
- outsider status
What reasons are there for pressure group failure?
The goal contradicts government policy
the goverment can resist pressure from a group
countervailling forces
the goals of the group act against popular opinion
the group alienates the public
Why might the goal contradicts a government policy a reason for pressure group failure and can you give a example?
if the government is determined to follow a particular policy then it will be very difficult for a pressure group to persuade the government to change its mind
The conservative goovernment 2015- is determined to introduce new polcies for a 7 day NHS therefore the BMA campaign against the proposals have largeely failed
Why might the fact that government can resist pressure from a group might be a reason for pressure group failure and can you give a example?
Those in a strong position of power can effectively ignore it
Stop the war coaltion organised mass rallies to stop invasion of iraq in 2003. However with a large majority and cross party support in parliament
Why might the countervailing forces be a reason for pressure group failure and can you give a example?
A pressure group may find itself campaigning against another more powerful or more popular pressure group which wins the debate
Pro smoking group Forredt failed to prevent restrictions on smoking in the uk as it lost out to the group ASH which has successfully campaigned for restricitions
on smoking
What are human rights?
- absolute, cannit be compromised or diminished in any way
- universal, applied to everyone equally
- Fundamental, essential part of life
what are civic responsibilities?
- respect and obey the laws
- pay taxes
- ensure you do not act in a way that causes harm to others, either deliberately or negigently
- perform specific duties in certain relationships
- show respect for parliament and government institutions
- vote
- serve on a jury
What arguements are in favour of individual rights?
ensures protection from government abuse
leads to civil responsibilities
necessary for a free society
what arguements are against individual rights?
can come at the expense of wider society
can hinder the effective operation of government
what are the five key areas which have seen significant conflicts between the judiciary anf the government over rights protection?
- anti terrorism
- depoprtation
- detention
- free speech and the right to protest
- anti social behaviour
since 1997 why has there been a growing number of conflicts?
- HRA gave judges more power to challenge government ministers
- HRA made it easier for odinary people to use the judicial system to challenge government ministers
- Increased threat of terrorism has caused government to take action on the basis of national security which conflict with individual rights
- is a perception that ministers are attempting to expand their powers at the expense of civil rights
Strengths of the judiciary in protecting rights:
- Judges exercise rule of law and can use HRA and power of judicial review to ensure rights are fully respected
- enhanced measures for judicial independence so can defend rights based only upon law away from political pressure
- judges are neutral and can therefore protet a person’s rights without discriminations
weaknesses of the judiciary in protecting rights:
- judges are undemocratic and unaccountable
- senior jduges work with parliament too advise on the legality of legislation
- lack of codified constitution cannot strike down primary legislation are powerless
- judges are unrepresentative from a narrow social and gender background
strengths of parliament in protecting rights:
- it holds sovreignty, can decide which rights should be enforced
- more representative of the people
- introduced and passed all of the acts relating to human rights, has a history of protecting and promoting human rights
- MPs represent their constituents, are in a position to raise the issue of citizens’ rights
- democratically elected
weaknesses of parliament in protecting rights:
- short term political considerations more important than human rights
- has the ability to suspend human rights
- usually dominated by governing party leading to a tyranny of the majority very few effective checks
- role of house of lords undermine democratic arguement
- Mps may be reluctant to champion human rights if it benefits an unpopular element e.g terrorist suspects
Pressure groups that campaign for human rights?
- liberty campaign ‘save our human rights act” in response to gov proposal of a British bill of rights
- Amnesty international
What could be done to improve democracy?
Compulsory voting reform of the voting system reform of the House of Lords greater recall of MPs Reform of the house of commons reforming the devolved system reform of the monarchy codifying the constitution E-democracy
How would greater reform of the house of commons improve democracy?
The HoC has a number of issues
reforms to make PMQs less adversarial
to make all members of select committees elected by the whole house
-bestow more power on the speaker to control debate
-introduce more modern technology for online questioning and public scrutiny stages
Types of E-democracy that could be used?
Online voting
Online questioning of minsters
digital campaigning
online public consultation of a bill
