Democracy

Question 1

What are the 2 different types of democracy?

Answer 1

1. Representative
2. Direct

Question 2

What is Representative Democracy?

Answer 2

Citizens elect people to vote on their behalf and make key decisions

Question 3

What is Direct Democracy?

Answer 3

Citizens directly involved in decision making processes

Question 4

Name 5 Key Features of Democracy

Answer 4

1. Accountability
2. Legitimacy
3. Participation
4. Representation
5. Power Dispersal

Question 5

What happened in 1066

Answer 5

England is ruled by an absolute monarch

Question 6

What happened in 1215?

Answer 6

The Magna Carta was signed, reducing the power of the king

Question 7

What happened in 1649?

Answer 7

Charles I is executed after the English Civil War

Question 8

What happened in 1707?

Answer 8

The Act of Union merges together the English and Scottish Parliament to form the Uk Parliament

Question 9

What happened in 1722?

Answer 9

Robert Walpole becomes the first de facto Prime Minister

Question 10

What happened in 1832?

Answer 10

The great reform act brought franchise to the middle class

Question 11

What happened in 1867?

Answer 11

The Representation of the People Act gave the working class the vote

Question 12

What did Acts in 1918 and 1929 achieve?

Answer 12

Gave all women over the ages of 30 and 21 respectively the vote

Question 13

What happened in 1969?

Answer 13

Another Representation of the People Act gave all 18-year olds the vote for the first time

Question 14

Give 5 Reasons the UK left the EU

Answer 14

• General Xenophobia
• Misinformation
• Political canvassing
• People felt unaffected by EU economic benefits
• A strong sense of independent national identity

Question 15

How can Direct Democracies be seen to be unstable?

Answer 15

Business Magnates in foreign countries (Rupert Murdoch) control many news agencies that can influence the votes of the British people.

Question 16

How can representative democracies be considered unstable?

Answer 16

Favouritism is given to constituencies that are ultra supportive of the party in power - being in a Conservative ultra-marginal constituency, made you more likely to receive money from the Towns Fund by 45%

Question 17

When was the Scottish devolution referendum?

Answer 17

1997

Question 18

What was the turnout and result of the Scottish devolution referendum?

Answer 18

60% turnout
Yes 74% - Scottish Parliament and tax raising powers

Question 19

When was the Welsh devolution referendum?

Answer 19

1997

Question 20

What was the turnout and result of the Welsh devolution referendum?

Answer 20

50% Turnout
Yes 50% - Welsh Assembly

Question 21

When was the Greater London Authority referendum?

Answer 21

1998

Question 22

What was the turnout and result of the Greater London Authority referendum?

Answer 22

34% Turnout
Yes 72% - London Mayor

Question 23

When was the AV Referendum?

Answer 23

2011

Question 24

What was the turnout and result of the AV referendum?

Answer 24

42% Turnout
No 68% - FPTP remained

Question 25

When was the Scottish referendum?

Answer 25

2014

Question 26

What was the Scottish referendum turnout and result?

Answer 26

85% turnout No 55% - Scotland remained

Question 27

When was the Brexit referendum?

Answer 27

2016

Question 28

What was the turnout and result of the Brexit Referendum?

Answer 28

Turnout 72% Leave 52% - BREXIT

Question 29

Name 5 Advantages of Referendums

Answer 29

1. Public are given direct control over policy making 2. Provides a check on government power 3. Can motivate people to become well informed on political issues 4. Another way of the people to communicate their thoughts other than just through GEs 5. Ensures that major changes have legitimacy

Question 30

Name 5 Disadvantages of Referendums

Answer 30

1. The public may not know the question they are voting on 2. Decisions may be scrutinised, discussed and debated less 3. The majority of people may vote for something that undermines the rights of a minority group - the tyranny of the majority 4. Governments can absolve themselves of responsibility 5. Referendums only provide a snapshot of public opinion at one point in time

Question 31

What is Slacktivism?

Answer 31

Low effort commitment to politics, simply commenting or retweeting

Question 32

Give 4 statistics that suggest that political participation in the UK is healthy

Answer 32

1. General election turnout since 2001 has been on the rise every year going from 59% - 69% 2. The UK has 11 parties with a sizeable 3rd party 3. Membership of pressure groups have increased markedly since the 1980’s 4. Social media has made it easier for people to get involved in politics

Question 33

Give 4 statistic that suggest that political participation in the UK is not healthy

Answer 33

1. Since 2001 voter turnout for all general elections has been below 70% 2. There has been a 65% decrease in party membership from the 1980’s to today 3. Unions have had a weaker voice due to Thatcher cracking down on them 4. Several low vote turnouts such as: - Scottish Parliament Election (50%) - Greater London Authority Referendum (34%) - AV referendum 2011 (42%) - PCC Elections 2012 (12-14% average - lowest 8%)

Question 34

Give 4 pieces of evidence that suggests that democracy functions effectively in the UK

Answer 34

1. The Electoral Commission ensures free and fair elections by setting laws e.g. enforcing a period of **Purdah** in which neither party can make any new proposals or statements, and preventing campaigning around ballot stations 2. Multiparty system allows for people to choose between a variety of views 3. Pressure groups provide a microphone for smaller or minority interests, and is another way for people to represent their opinions 4. Universal suffrage allows for almost everyone over the age of 18 to vote in the UK regardless of gender, race or religion

Question 35

Give 4 pieces of evidence that suggests that the UK is experiencing a democratic deficit

Answer 35

1. There are unelected elements - HOL/Monarchy 2. Turnout is nowhere near as high as it used to be - dropped under 70% in 2001 and has remained <70% since - never having dipped below 70% before 3. The party system is realistically a 2 party system which doesn't allow for much choice in elections, or a wide range of views to be represented in parliament 4. Lack of entrenched rights - without a codified constitution - rights could technically be overturned with a simple act of parliament

Question 36

Give 5 potential democratic reforms that have been suggested

Answer 36

1. House of Lords Reform 2. Reform of the Monarchy 3. Compulsory Voting 4. Electoral reform 5. Undemocratic elements of the commons (No one voted for Rishi Sunak to be PM and yet he is - should a GE be called if a PM resigns?)