Democracy

Question 1

What are 3 types of direct democracy that have been implemented into UK?

Answer 1

• Referendums
• Recall elections e.g Fiona Onasanya Peterborough was jailed for 3 months after perverting the course of justice
• Initiatives

Question 2

What are 5 advantages of direct democracy?

Answer 2

• Genuine democracy ‘rule of the people’
• Less scope for manipulation by politicians
• Democratic accountability could be extended to the workplace as a form of workers control
• Citizens are less likely to be apathetic as they are more involved in the process
• Marginalised issues can be addressed

Question 3

What are 6 disadvantages of direct democracy?

Answer 3

• not practical in large populations
• electorate is insufficiently informed to vote on many issues
• Powerful and wealthy groups would have too much influence e.g media and funding
• Decline of Parliamentary sovereignty
• Not possible to implement alongside capitalism (ruling class wont let it happen)
• Politicians avoiding responsibility (what they are paid 91,000)

Question 4

What are 5 advantages of representative democracy?

Answer 4

• Politicians are professionals and are well informed on issues
• electorate is not responsible enough to vote on certain issues
• practical in large populations
• interests of minorities can be considered by elected reresentatives
• representatives are paid and have time and resources to make informed decisions

Question 5

What are 6 disadvantages of representative democracy?

Answer 5

• Too much power to corrupt politicians that may divert issues to fit their own wants (break promises and do not carry out manifesto often) e.g LibDems promised to abolish tuition fees
• Politicians able to act without a mandate on many issues not democratic
• Party politics is too prevalent ‘punch and Judy politics’
• powerfully and wealthy individuals and corporations have too much influence influence e.g funding and lobbying
• Citizens become apathetic
• Electoral system is ass

Question 6

What is the difference between a representative and a delegate?

Answer 6

• a representative represents how they see fit whereas a delegate consults constituents and votes how they are instructed to

Question 7

What are 3 arguments that MPs should be representatives?

Answer 7

• MPs need to be flexible as they rule for 5 years and things change, previous manifesto commitments may be now inappropriate
• In Liberal democracy individual freedom is important, MPs should be able to think and change their mind as everyone else should
• Burke said his constituents elected him for his ability not to slavishly follow their opinions

Question 8

What are 3 arguments that MPs should be Delegates?

Answer 8

• MPs owe position to party and should respect this if not they may be deselected
• MPs have a duty to follow manifesto, they should not undermine the trust of their constituents
• Need for majoritarian grouping in Parliament in order to pass legislation
• MPs must respects things such as referendums and so cannot act individually