Democracy

Question 1

Direct democracy

Answer 1

Individuals express their political opinions themselves.
Originated in ancient Athens- male citizens would attend public meetings to make decisions
-people more active in politics
-not elective

Question 2

Representative democracy

Answer 2

People elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
-Do not act as delegates
-Can be held to account and removed if the voters are unsatisfied
-Adult citizens have a right to vote
-Free and fair elections

Question 3

Pluralist democracy

Answer 3

Type of democracy where a government makes decisions as a result of the interplay of various ideas and contrasting arguments from competing groups and organisations.

Question 4

National referendums

Answer 4

A direct vote on a single issue (requiring a yes or no answer)

Question 5

When was the remain or leave the EU vote in the UK?

Answer 5

June 2016

Question 6

What was the Brexit referendum voter turnout?

Answer 6

72.2%

Question 7

What were the results of the 2016 Brexit referendum? (%)

Answer 7

Remain- 48.1%
Leave- 51.9%

Question 8

When was the first referendum in the UK? Where was it used?

Answer 8

1973 in Northern Ireland (where voters were asked if they want to stay in the UK)

Question 9

When was the first national referendum held in the UK?

Answer 9

1975

Question 10

When was the Scottish independence referendum? What was the voter turnout?

Answer 10

September 2014 with a voter turnout of 84.6%

Question 11

Howe many Scottish people in 2014 voted for and against Scottish independence?

Answer 11

Yes (for Scottish independence) - 44.7%
No (against Scottish independence) - 55.3%

Question 12

When and where was the Approval of the Good Friday Agreement referendum?

Answer 12

May 1998 in Northern Ireland

Question 13

What was the voter turnout and the results of the Approval of Good Friday Agreement referendum?

Answer 13

Turnout- 81.0%
Yes- 71.1
No- 28.9

Question 14

In what instances will a referendum be held?

Answer 14

Legitimising a major government initiative (important constitutional changes) or getting a government out of a difficult decision

Question 15

What are the advantages of direct democracy?

Answer 15

-All votes have an equal impact
-Encourages political participation and makes citizens take their duties seriously
-People can take responsibility for their own actions
-Encourages debate and being for informed when it comes to making political decisions

Question 16

What are the disadvantages of direct democracy?

Answer 16

-Impractical and expensive for large (and modern) population
-Many people don’t want to or don’t have the expertise to take part in decision making
-Open to manipulation and influence from campaigns and the media
-Minority viewpoints are disregarded

Question 17

What are the advantages of representative democracy?

Answer 17

-Practical for a rapid response in a large population
-Representatives from different parties and pressure groups representing minority interests creates a pluralist democracy and encourages debate
-Reduces the chance of minority interests being over-ridden by ‘tyranny of the majority’
-Representatives can be held to account
-Theoretically, politicians have a better expertise to make decisions on many issues

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of a representative democracy?

Answer 18

-Reduces participation as responsibility is given to politicians
-Parties and pressure groups can be run by elites and pushing their own agenda (not the people’s)
-Minorities are under-represented and most politicians will follow the majority
-Politicians are skilful in avoiding accountability - elections are only every 5 years
-Politicians can be corrupt, incompetent and vote for themselves or their party rather than their constituency

Question 19

When was the Recall of MPs Act?

Answer 19

2015

Question 20

What did the 2015 Recall of MPs act do?

Answer 20

A petition will be triggered if an MP is sentenced to be imprisoned or suspended from House of Commons for over 21 days. If 10% of the constituency electorate sign the petition, then a by-election is called.

Question 21

What’s a by-election?

Answer 21

An election held in a single political constituency to fill a vacancy arising during a government’s term of office.

Question 22

Definition of legitimacy.

Answer 22

The legal right to exercise power (right to rule)

Question 23

Definition of democratic deficit.

Answer 23

A perceived deficiency in the way a particular democratic body works, especially in terms of accountability and control over policy-making.

Question 24

What are the positive democratic features of the UK?

Answer 24

-Devolved governments (local governments for closer decisions for local people)
-Independent judiciary (separate from branches of government and this protects range of personal freedoms)
-Free media (can expose misleadings of politicians)
-Free and fair elections
-Wide range of pressure groups and political parties (which can be joined)

Question 25

Undemocratic features of the UK

Answer 25

First-Past-The-Post (underrepresentation of minority interests), House of Lords (legitimacy), Lack of protection for citizen’s rights, control of media by the wealthy

Question 26

Why is first past the post undemocratic?

Answer 26

It causes a two party system and tactical voting within constituencies which can lead to the legitimacy being questioned

Question 27

How is the House of Lords illegitimate?

Answer 27

-The peers are unelected by the public and are instead selected by ministers
-Approximately 92 are hereditary peers
-26 bishops (CofE) are in the lords-outdated

Question 28

How many bishops are in the House of Lords?

Answer 28

26

Question 29

How many hereditary peers are in the House of Lords

Answer 29

92

Question 30

How many seats are in the House of Commons?

Answer 30

650

Question 31

Why shouldn’t the House of Lords be reformed?

Answer 31

-Crucial role in scrutiny
-Representation of parties does not match the Commons
-Cross benchers (scrutiny)
-Peers are elected from life experience so theres a range of different expertise within the house