Current Systems of Democracy Flashcards
Representative democracy:
A form of democracy in which votes elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf. These representatives are then held accountable to the public in regular general elections.
According to the 2019 Hansard Society Audit of political engagement, what proportion of people felt that the political system was rigged to the advantage of the rich and powerful?
In 2019, 63% of people felt the political system was rigged to the advantage of the rich and powerful.
Case study - 2009 Expenses Scandal
Which newspapers discovered ?
The Daily Telegraph published evidence of widespread abuse of the system.
Five former MPs and two members of the Lords were sentenced to prison terms.
Diminished trust in politicians.
Peter Viggers claimed 30,000 on a duck house. Gordon Brown claimed 12,415 for cleaning and gardening costs.
How do pressure groups seek to influence?
- Affecting government policy -
- Pushing an issue up the political agenda
- Changing people’s values, perceptions and behaviour (ideological power)
How many signatures needed for the government to respond to a petition. And how many petitions are needed for a petition to be debated?
- 10,000 signatures for a response from the government
- 100,000 signatures and Parliament will debate the issue.
What are the advantages of direct democracy?
- A pure form of democracy - Views are expressed by people themselves, not delegated to representatives. Wishes of the people are enacted. Transparent.
- Increased legitimacy - Decisions have greater democratic legitimacy because the system is majoritarian and made by the people themselves.
- Improves participation - As people will have more opportunities to make a direct contribution
- Increases public engagement - Public will want to be more informed when voting on issues - regular public debates. E.g. Brexit
Improves political education. - It works - Switzerland regularly uses direct democracy to make decisions.
What are the advantages of representative democracy?
- Expertise
Representatives are better informed to make political decisions as they have better knowledge than most of the population. - Practicality
Citizens cannot always make decisions - long and time consuming process. More efficient to delegate politicians for the role. - Representation
Can protect the interests of minority groups better and make policy proposals that work best for everyone. Less likely to have tyranny of the majority - Accountability
The public and institutions can hold representatives accountable for their decisions. In direct democracies, it is harder to hold the people as a whole accountable.
What are the circumstances for a Recall Petition?
- MP must be suspended from Parliament for 10 sitting days
- Or imprisoned
- Or convicted of providing false or misleading information for allowance claims under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009
- By election is triggered if 10% of constituents sign a petition
- Fiona Onasanya and Chris Davies
What are the differences between representatives and direct democracy ?
- Direct democracy is a one off, isolated event. No intermediary
- Direct democracy is always on a single issues, whilst representative democracy does not.
- Referendums require an act of parliament, whereas the calling of an election does not
What are the disadvantages of direct democracy?
- It is not practical
Modern state has great number of issues and high population. Direct democracy would be irresponsible and impractical. - Voters are not experts
In complex matters of state, it might be better to let the technocrats get on with the job - Tyranny of the majority
Minority groups and interests may have their concerns overlooked when decisions are based on a majority vote. - Undermines elected representatives.
- Can be manipulated
Leave Campaign broke spending regulations. People often vote with their emotions rather than the practical consideration of major issues. - Populist outcomes
People might be deceived by Charlatans and demagogues like Boris Johnson and Farage.
What are the disadvantages of representative democracy?
- Low participation
People might hand responsibility to politicians and feel a lack of power, opportunity to engage. - Inaccurate representation.
Parliament might not share characteristics with constituents. 29% of MPs are privately educated, whilst only 7% of the UK is. - Self interest
MPs might act in their self-interest, rather than for the good of constituents - e.g. Owen Patterson, Boris Johnson. - Politicians are skillful at avoiding accountability, especially as general elections are every 5 years.
- Often politicians are incompetent - Liz Truss did not listen to the OBR.
Minorities might still be under-represented as politicians follow the views of the majority.
What are the negative aspects of democracy in the UK?
- FPTP electoral system.
Wasted votes, safe seats, unrepresentative (UKIP gained 3.7 million votes, 1 seat. SNP gained 56 seats with 1.45 million votes, winners bonus, discriminates against parties with dispersed support, favours the two party system. Voters feel like the don’t have a choice. - Unelected elements
House of lords lacks legitimacy. Cannot be held to account. Appointed by House of Lords Appointment Commission and PM.
Undemocratic - Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak did not receive a mandate from the UK. - Lack of protection for rights
No codified constitution, means that government can take away rights.
Public order bill - criminal offence to ‘lock on’, tunnel, extending stop and search powers for police to seize protest related devices
Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act - Police can shut down protests if they are deemed a ‘public nuisance’.
Governments can ‘derogate’ from the HRA. - No prisoners voting rights, Belmarsh. - Devolution
Government will not grant Scotland a 2nd referendum.
Party membership
Only 1.6% of the electorate belongs to a political party, in 1938, the figure was 3.8%. - Interference in Brexit referendum.
- Media landscape is very right wing.
- Low voter turnout. Below 70% since 2005.
- Corruption, cronyism and sleaze
2010 expenses, Owen Patterson, Richard Sharp, Nadhim Zahawi, Boris Johnson nominating father for peerage - Presence of thinktanks, Lobbyists and corporations in the UK
What are the positive elements of democracy in the UK?
- Devolved governments
Powers transferred to Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly.
Nine city regions have metro mayors https://www.centreforcities.org/publication/everything-need-know-metro-mayors/#whyare - Independent judiciary
Separate from other branches that upholds rule of law. Can challenge government - prevented Theresa May from triggering article 50. - Free media.
Challenges government and exposes the misdeeds of politicans. - e.g. expenses scandal - Free and fair elections
- Free of corruption and intimidation.
- Universal suffrage.
Electoral commision works hard to ensure that parties adhere to rules on spending and campaigning. - Wide range of political pressure groups.
- Increased participation and engagement with social media.
- Backbenchers have more power and have taken control of the order paper.
- Diversifying forms of finance
Parties aren’t dependent on a single source. Less likely to be beholden to special interests.
What are the similarities between direct and representative democracy?
- Both involve popular engagement
- Both have a campaign where electorate is presented with various options
- Both seek popular consents for a particular decision
- Both have rules on campaigns and spending limit.
What are the two main democratic systems?
- Direct democracy
Citizens vote on policies and laws made by governments themselves as opposed to acting through others. Decisions are reached by majority voting. Originated in ancient athens.
Not practical - Representative democracy
Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. All adult citizens have the right to vote.
What are the ways to improve democracy (Fairclough, 2014). Sometimes called the Democratic Renewal?
- Encourages greater participation by simplifying voter registration - opt out rather than opt in.
- Votes at 16.
- Wider use of petitions and citizens assemblies
- Fairer representation through electoral reform to Westminster. ‘Winner take it all system’.
- Fairer representation through electoral reform to ensure all votes count.
- Complete Lords reform - get rid of cash for peerages, hereditaries.
Modernising the commons - Make them vote electronically.
- Abolish the whip system (encourage more independent thinking)
- Reform party funding
Fix loopholes (e.g. foreign donations). Ban individual donations. State funding for parties. - MPs expenses
- Regulate lobbying
- Devolve more powers to local government.
What are the weaknesses of Recall petitions?
- Very limited scope to recall an MP - Has to be suspended for 14 days and imprisoned.
- Power remains in the hands of MPs - Parliamentary standards committee can recommend a suspension , but the Commons has to vote on it.
What happens if a petition gets 100,000 signatures? - Examples
The Backbench Business committee debates it
1. Hillsborough document release 156,000 signatures - Was successful and led to the release of all documents
2. Trump state visit - 1.8million signatures
3. Revoke article 50 - 6.1 million signatures and was shut down by government
What impact did a citizens assembly have in The Republic of Ireland?
- Used to recommend a referendum on abortion rights.
- Abortion was then legalised
What is the Fixed Term Parliament Act and What happened to it?
- Lib dems created FTPA to avoid Cameron calling a general election.
- It required that a general election have the consent of 2/3s of the House of Commons
- Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act (2022) brought the power back to the Prime Minister.
When was the Switzerland Minaret referendum?
- 2009
- Switzerland voted to ban the constructions of minarets.
- Almost 60% of the country voted to ban minarets. Led to inflated tensions between Switzerland and the Muslim world
Where can direct democracy be seen in the UK today?
- Referendums.
1975 referendum on membership of the EEC. 2011 AV Referendum. 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum. 2016 Brexit Referendum. - The 2015 Recall of MPs Act.
Allows petition of MP is sent to prison, barred from the house of commons for 10 days, or privided false expenses claims. By election will be called if 10% of constituents sign a recall petition - Petitions
Following Wright reforms (2009), The Backbench Business Committee debtates petitions which reach 100,000 signatures.
Hillsborough document release 156,202. Trump State visit 1.8 million. Revoke article 50 6 million.
Who were the two MPs who had a successful Recall Petition launched against them?
- Fiona Onasanya (perverting the course of justice when lied about a speeding ticket)
- Chris Davies (Found submitting fake expenses invoice)
Why might it be argued that there isn’t a crisis of participation?
- Membership of pressure groups, particularly those concerned with single issues such as the environment has been increasing. (vehicle for political engagement)
- Demonstrations on fuel prices, the Iraq war, fox hunting and tuition fees. Direct action has become regular and people use consumer power to express political opinions.
- Emergence of social media and e-democracy
Petitions over 100,000 must be debated in the commons.
Revoke article 50 - 6.7 million signatures. Trump state visit - 1.8 million signatures. - Low political engagement might be described as ‘hapathy’. This was the case in 2001 and 2005.
Turnout has been steadily on the rise. In 2017, Corbyn’s radical vision for Britain galvanised young voters to turn out. This ultimately helped deny May a majority
The nature of participation is changing not declining
