Democracy

Question 1

What is power?

Answer 1

The ability to make people do things that they might not want to do

Question 2

What is authority?

Answer 2

The given right to influence other people’s behaviour and actions.

Question 3

What is meant by a “legitimate” government?

Answer 3

Whether it is popularly accepted that a government, or any other political institution, has the authority to hold power and make rules.

Question 4

What is democracy?

Answer 4

Power to the people

Question 5

What is direct democracy?

Answer 5

a form of government in which policies and laws are decided by a majority of all those eligible rather than by a body of elected representatives.

Question 6

What type of democracy are referendums an example of?

Answer 6

Direct democracy

Question 7

What is indirect democracy?

Answer 7

People vote to choose politicians who will represent their views.

Question 8

Give 3 of 5 advantages of direct democracy:

Answer 8

1) Pure democracy: true picture of what the public want! Less distortion.
2) People have the opportunity to directly give their views on important political issues. A pure result.
3) Encourages participation and educates the public on key issues
4) The people must take responsibility for their decisions rather than blaming elected politicians
5) Prevents power from being concentrated in the hands of an elite few.

Question 9

Give 3 of 5 disadvantages of direct democracy:

Answer 9

1) It may be too difficult and expensive due to larger population sizes
2) The public may not have the time or interest to understand the issues
3) Wealthier groups can distort the debate
4) The public might be unwilling to make unpopular but necessary decisions
5) Tyranny of the majority… the majority can vote to oppress the minority groups lacking numbers to win a referendum vote.

Question 10

What are 3 of 5 advantages of representative/ indirect democracy?

Answer 10

1) it can be more practical, spending less time and only requires smaller populations
2) Elected representatives may have greater expertise and experience
3) Representatives can implement unpopular, but necessary policies
4) Representatives are held accountable for their actions at the next election
5) It avoids the tyranny of the majority - all groups should be represented

Question 11

What are 2 of 4 disadvantages of representative/ indirect democracy?

Answer 11

1) Representatives might not always represent the views of the public
2) Parties can have great influences over the actions of representatives.
3) low public interest and participation can leave decisions to a small elite.
4) Our elections make it difficult for smaller parties to win, meaning many views can go unrepresented

Question 12

In Direct democracy, popular participation is: (3 points)

Answer 12

Direct
Continuous
Unmediated

Question 13

In representative democracy, popular participation is: Give 3 points

Answer 13

Indirect
Limited
Mediated

Question 14

What is the delegate role?

Answer 14

Representatives act as a “mouthpiece” for the wishes of the electorate

Question 15

What is the representative role (Edmund Burke)?

Answer 15

Representatives should act on their conscience as to what is best… regardless of the party and electorates view!

Question 16

Is all of Parliament elected in the UK General Election?

Answer 16

Only half of parliament is elected, because Parliament is divided into two houses (HO Commons (‘lower house’ and HO Lords ‘upper house’)

Question 17

What happens if a single party wins a majority of seats in the Commons?

Answer 17

It’s leader becomes the new prime minister, who then selects a team of MPs and Lords from their party to form a government.

Question 18

Give one difference between government and Parliament:

Answer 18

Parliament is a legislative branch, debating and approving new laws while scrutinising the work of the government.
Government is an executive branch, proposing new laws and implementing them once passed by Parliament.

Question 19

What is one difference between parliamentary and presidential democracy?

Answer 19

UK - Parliamentary democracy
Public elects individuals to represent them in Parliament.
The government is drawn from Parliament.
Executive depends on, and is held accountable to, Parliament.

USA - Presidential democracy
Public elects individuals to represent them in Congress.
Public also elects a president (head of government).
Executive power is separated from legislative power.

Question 20

Has the UK always been a representative democracy?

Answer 20

No

Question 21

If Parliament is sovereign, why are there so many other elections in the UK?

Answer 21

In recent decades, Parliament has devolved significant power to other elected institutions, so there are a number of elections to elect other representatives with particular powers and responsibilities.

Question 22

What are the different theories for how MPs should represent their constituents?

Answer 22

1) MPs should act as delegates.
2) Trustee (Burkean) representation: experienced, educated, and informed MPs should consider constituents’ views but exercise their own judgement in Parliament. They should act in the National, rather than local, interest.

Question 23

Aside from voting, how else can we participate in representative/ indirect democracy?

Answer 23

Get involved in election campaigns
Participation can be electoral or non-electoral
Write letters or visit local representatives to share views and influence their votes in Parliament.
Join political parties
Join pressure groups
Consultation with the government

Question 24

What is party discipline?

Answer 24

Party discipline refers to the practice in the Westminster system of government where MPs and MPPs/MLAs are expected to vote in accordance with their party’s official position in the legislature. It is a morally controversial practice as it can lead to members changing party affiliation after being elected, which may betray the expectations of the public who voted for them as members of a particular party.

Question 25

What is the constitution?

Answer 25

A constitution is a set of rules that guides how a country, state, or other political organization works