Democracy Flashcards
What are the 2 different types of democracy?
- Representative
- Direct
What is Representative Democracy?
Citizens elect people to vote on their behalf and make key decisions
What is Direct Democracy?
Citizens directly involved in decision making processes
Name 5 Key Features of Democracy
- Accountability
- Legitimacy
- Participation
- Representation
- Power Dispersal
What happened in 1066
England is ruled by an absolute monarch
What happened in 1215?
The Magna Carta was signed, reducing the power of the king
What happened in 1649?
Charles I is executed after the English Civil War
What happened in 1707?
The Act of Union merges together the English and Scottish Parliament to form the Uk Parliament
What happened in 1722?
Robert Walpole becomes the first de facto Prime Minister
What happened in 1832?
The great reform act brought franchise to the middle class
What happened in 1867?
The Representation of the People Act gave the working class the vote
What did Acts in 1918 and 1929 achieve?
Gave all women over the ages of 30 and 21 respectively the vote
What happened in 1969?
Another Representation of the People Act gave all 18-year olds the vote for the first time
Give 5 Reasons the UK left the EU
- General Xenophobia
- Misinformation
- Political canvassing
- People felt unaffected by EU economic benefits
- A strong sense of independent national identity
How can Direct Democracies be seen to be unstable?
Business Magnates in foreign countries (Rupert Murdoch) control many news agencies that can influence the votes of the British people.
How can representative democracies be considered unstable?
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%
When was the Scottish devolution referendum?
1997
What was the turnout and result of the Scottish devolution referendum?
60% turnout
Yes 74% - Scottish Parliament and tax raising powers
When was the Welsh devolution referendum?
1997
What was the turnout and result of the Welsh devolution referendum?
50% Turnout
Yes 50% - Welsh Assembly
When was the Greater London Authority referendum?
1998
What was the turnout and result of the Greater London Authority referendum?
34% Turnout
Yes 72% - London Mayor
When was the AV Referendum?
2011
What was the turnout and result of the AV referendum?
42% Turnout
No 68% - FPTP remained
When was the Scottish referendum?
2014
What was the Scottish referendum turnout and result?
85% turnout
No 55% - Scotland remained
When was the Brexit referendum?
2016
What was the turnout and result of the Brexit Referendum?
Turnout 72%
Leave 52% - BREXIT
Name 5 Advantages of Referendums
- Public are given direct control over policy making
- Provides a check on government power
- Can motivate people to become well informed on political issues
- Another way of the people to communicate their thoughts other than just through GEs
- Ensures that major changes have legitimacy
Name 5 Disadvantages of Referendums
- The public may not know the question they are voting on
- Decisions may be scrutinised, discussed and debated less
- The majority of people may vote for something that undermines the rights of a minority group - the tyranny of the majority
- Governments can absolve themselves of responsibility
- Referendums only provide a snapshot of public opinion at one point in time
What is Slacktivism?
Low effort commitment to politics, simply commenting or retweeting
Give 4 statistics that suggest that political participation in the UK is healthy
- General election turnout since 2001 has been on the rise every year going from 59% - 69%
- The UK has 11 parties with a sizeable 3rd party
- Membership of pressure groups have increased markedly since the 1980’s
- Social media has made it easier for people to get involved in politics
Give 4 statistic that suggest that political participation in the UK is not healthy
- Since 2001 voter turnout for all general elections has been below 70%
- There has been a 65% decrease in party membership from the 1980’s to today
- Unions have had a weaker voice due to Thatcher cracking down on them
- 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%)
Give 4 pieces of evidence that suggests that democracy functions effectively in the UK
- 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
- Multiparty system allows for people to choose between a variety of views
- Pressure groups provide a microphone for smaller or minority interests, and is another way for people to represent their opinions
- Universal suffrage allows for almost everyone over the age of 18 to vote in the UK regardless of gender, race or religion
Give 4 pieces of evidence that suggests that the UK is experiencing a democratic deficit
- There are unelected elements - HOL/Monarchy
- 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
- 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
- Lack of entrenched rights - without a codified constitution - rights could technically be overturned with a simple act of parliament
Give 5 potential democratic reforms that have been suggested
- House of Lords Reform
- Reform of the Monarchy
- Compulsory Voting
- Electoral reform
- 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?)
