Democracy

Question 1

What is democracy?

Answer 1

The idea that the people in a society should control how the society is governed. From Greek Demos (people) and Kratia (power)

Question 2

What is direct democracy?

Answer 2

A form of democracy where the public is consulted directly on issues rather than through representatives, using referendums.

Question 3

What is representative democracy?

Answer 3

A system in which the electorate chooses representatives to put forward their beliefs in parliament through elections. Rep’s often in parties

Question 4

What is legitimacy?

Answer 4

The rightful exercise of power in accordance to widely accepted agreeements e.g. govt right to rule after winning election, monarch’s succession

Question 5

What is consent?

Answer 5

An agreement to be ruled/governed

Question 6

What is universal suffrage?

Answer 6

The right for all adults to vote

Question 7

What is political participation?

Answer 7

Involvement of public in politics through voting, membership of parties and membership of pressure groups to shape policy

Question 8

What is a modern example of direct democracy?

Answer 8

Switzerland:
Use 3 instruments, mandatory, popular initiative and optional
- Vote must be held on any amendment to constitution creating mandatory referendum
- Citizens launch popular initiative to demand change to constitution
- Optional referendums allow citizens to call referendums on new laws and against certain international treaties

Question 9

Differences between direct and representative;

Answer 9

1. Popular participation means people make policy decisions, do not just choose who rules on their behalf.
2. In direct, popular participation is immediate, people are govt. so no separation between people and politicians, in representative, arguably public is linked to govt by representative institutions.
3. Direct democracy allows continuous participation, regularly engaging in politics, in representative it is brief and infrequent with elections