Democracy Flashcards
Power
Ability to enforce policy
Authority
The legitimacy of a body to use its power
Direct Authority
delegates as a “mouthpiece” for their constituents
Representative Authority
delegates act as a “trustee” (Burkean model) to act in the best interest from their experiences
Separation of power in the UK
-Overlap between executive and legislative (government drawn in from parliament)
-Overlap between legislative and judiciary (formerly Lord Chancellor, now govt has 2 vetoes over judicial appointments, all 12 supreme judges sit in the HOL)
Separation of power in the USA
- rigid operation, no overlap between any of the 3 branches
Arguments for a participation crisis
- decline in party membership (1950- 2.8 million conservatives, 1 million labour to combined 500,000 in 2021)
- decline in turnout (1997: 71.4%, 2001: 59%)
- low trust in politicians (party gate)
- hapathy, apathetic feeling
Arguments against a participation crisis
- referendum turnout is high ( 72% for Brexit, 85% for Scottish independence)
- more smaller parties taking membership
- rise of single issue pressure groups
- internet participation
Solutions for participation
- compulsory voting
- E-democracy
- Lowered voting age
Sectional pressure groups
advance or protect interests, closed member ship, motivated by self interest
Casual pressure groups
promote value or principle, open to all and motivated by altruistic considerations
Insider pressure groups
have special relationship with the government
Outsider pressure groups
resort to activities to generate attention from the press
Pressure group case study:
Prisoner Voting rights
- begun by John Hirst who served 25 years from 1980-2004, declared that a blanket ban on all prisoners voting was a violation of their human rights
