Current Systems of Democracy In The UK

Question 1

What type of democracy is the UK?

Answer 1

A representative democracy

Question 2

What is a representative democracy?

Answer 2

A representative democracy is a democracy in which voters elect politicians to make decisions on their behalf. Representative democracy is based on the principle that politicians represent the interests of their constituents but listening to their concerns in public meetings.

Question 3

Should MPs do whatever their constituents tell them to? What else should they consider?

Answer 3

Elected representatives should also consider their party’s manifesto and their own understanding of the issue.

Question 4

What are the advantages of representative democracy?

Answer 4

The main advantages of representative democracy are that decisions are made by politicians who can make educated decisions that are fair for everyone in their constituencies.

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of representative democracy?

Answer 5

Some people argue the MPs do not always represent the public and that they are often disconnected from their voters. MPs can also also have other jobs, compromising their ability to fully represent their constituents.

Question 6

Why might the FPTP system be unrepresentative?

Answer 6

The FPTP system can also be considered unrepresentative, as smaller parties can struggle to win the appropriate number of seats in the House of Commons.

Question 7

Is there a lack of diversity in the House of Commons?

Answer 7

Many people argue that the interests of poorer voters are not fully represented due to a lack of social diversity in the House of Commons.

Question 8

What are some of issues with the lack of representation in the House of Lords?

Answer 8

The House of Lords is mostly unelected, so it is unaccountable to the public.

Question 9

How has the level of diversity in the House of Commons changed in recent years?

Answer 9

The level of diversity in the House of Commons has significantly increased since previous general elections, and MPs do not need to share the same characteristics as a group to represent them.

Question 10

What is the alternative to representative democracy?

Answer 10

The alternative to representative democracy is direct democracy. This is where citizens themselves can vote on political decisions.

Question 11

Is direct democracy possible in the UK?

Answer 11

Direct democracy would be very difficult to implement for a large country like the UK.

Question 12

What is the most significant modern example of direct democracy?

Answer 12

The closest thing to modern direct democracy in the UK is referendums, where voters can, to some extent, make political decisions.

Question 13

What are six examples of direct democracy?

Answer 13

Referendums
E-petitions
Consultative exercises
Open primaries
The election of leadership of the main parties
The Recall of MPs Act 2015

Question 14

What are consultative exercises?

Answer 14

Non-binding votes so politicians can see how popular a proposed policy would be.

Question 15

What are open primaries?

Answer 15

Where the public directly decide who the candidate for an election in a constituency should be.

Question 16

What does the Recall of MPs Act 2015 allow an MP’s constituents to do?

Answer 16

The Recall of MPs Act 2015 allows constituents to create a recall petition (which would trigger a by-election if over 10% of all an MP’s constituents sign it) if their MP had been imprisoned, suspended from the Houses of Commons or been convicted of making false expenses claims.

Question 17

Voter turnout has been extremely low in recent years; what are suggestions to solve this problem?

Answer 17

More power could be dissolved from Westminster, giving people more self-determination
Broadening the criteria that a recall petition can be created for would give constituents more power
The House of Lords is partly unelected, and changing this could increase voter turnout
Digital voting could increase voter turnout
Changing the voting system could be possible

Question 18

What is a counter-argument for devolving more power from Westminster in the hopes of increasing voter turnout?

Answer 18

There is less voter turnout for devolved assemblies than for the Westminster Parliament, and English voters do not want an English Parliament.

Question 19

What is a counter-argument to elections for the House of Lords?

Answer 19

An unelected House of Lords would become a political rival to the House of Commons.

Question 20

What could be a problem with digital voting?

Answer 20

Digital voting might increase voter turnout, but this would mean voters would no longer be secret and electronic voting would be more open to fraud than traditional voting.

Question 21

What is legitimate authority?

Answer 21

Power that has been legally acquired and has been exercised according to the rule of law.

Question 22

What is a participation crisis?

Answer 22

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