Citizen Participation Flashcards
Citizen Participation Structure
Introduction Voting Joining political parties Campaigning Protesting Public Petitions Conclusion
Citizen Participation Introduction
- UK is democratic society where all citizens have opportunities to participate in politics
- Main one is voting such as in general elections and referendums which control important decisions
- Also scrutinise government with protests, campaigns and petitions such as numerous climate change protests, where even young people are participating
- They can support their cause by joining a political partu
Voting
K - All citizens have right and responsibility to vote
- They are able to use this right to choose who
represents them and influence important constitutional
matters such as whether to stay in EU
- In 2017 GE, voters were able to support or reject MSPs
- Labour punished in Scotland for siding with
Conservatives over independence and no longer
dominate the country politically.
An - FPTP favours the main parties and wastes millions of
voters’ voters.
- This restricts their influence
- For example, in 2017, Airdrie and Shotts MP Neil Gray
only won by 200 votes with no majority. Means he is
representing a constituency where more people
voted against him.
Ev - Therefore, voters do have power to vote but are not
very influential if live in safe seat or support a smaller
party. Only influential when change to PR system.
Joining political parties
K - Citizens have right to join party
- Can influence by voting on party policies and party
leaders
- Means party members can influence direction of party
- Can join party to represent views. Eg person who
doesn’t like public spending, high taxes joins
Conservatives. Someone who is passionate about
nationalism and education join SNP.
- Jeremy Corbyn was unpopular amongst MPs but was
popular amongst normal members of Labour.
An - However, members often don’t agree and can have
little power if leadership decides to go in different
direction.
- For example, Conservatives were split over issue of
Brexit, with many being against referendum.
However, still happened as David Cameron was
determined.
Ev - Can join parties that represent their views and
influence decisions.
- Not influential if unable to convince other members or
leadership
Campaigning
K - People in the UK can campaign for party or issue by
canvassing, giving out leaflets, fundraising, doing
demonstrations.
- Members of parties and pressure groups expected to
take part.
- For example, YES and Better Together in Scottish
independence relied on grassroots methods.
- LEAVE and REMAIN also relied on ordinary citizens
and may be why it was so close. (52% - 48%)
An - However, YES campaign failed with 55% voting in
spite of campaigning.
- Many say campaigning does matter but media may
matter more.
- SNP and YES campaigns accused BBC of biased
journalism during referendum.
Ev - Citizens can make a difference by campaigning to
influence decision making and other voters but other
influences also have to be taken into account.
Protesting
K - Protest about issues they feel strongly about such as
Brexit and climate change
- It is influential as in the past, government have been
willing to change their minds after strong public
support for an issue was shown through protesting
- Eg, after protests about the Bedroom Tax in 2013,
SNP decided to absorb the tax using their devolved
powers.
An - However, many protests have been very ineffective
and despite huge support, the government have not
listened.
- They are not obligated to listen.
- For example, over 700000 people marched in
London for a peoples’ vote but no referendum
planned, still leaving in October 31.
Ev - Can garner huge amounts of media attention and
cause change but has a very low success rate.
Public Petitions
K - In Scotland, citizens can submit petitions and e-
petitions to be considered by MSPs and public
petitions committee.
- Great way to raise and show support for an issue
- Some recent petitions that have been submitted
include one to improve access to broadband in rural
areas and another to have defibrillators in all public
buildings.
An - However, many have been unsuccessful and have
led to no change.
- MSPs can express their opinions in debates but
there is no compulsion to change any laws.
- Around 50% of all petitions are discarded and many
do not receive enough signatures.
Ev - Power is greatly limited in this area as most lead to
nothing being done.
Citizen Participation Conclusion
-given many powers but the decisions are ultimately made by the government
