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Politics > Democracy > Flashcards

Democracy Flashcards

1
Q

What percent and how many seats did ukip win in the 2015 election

A

12.6% and one seat

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2
Q

What is power

A

The ability to make people do things

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3
Q

What is authority

A

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

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4
Q

What is legitimacy

A

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

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5
Q

Strengths of direct democracy

A

Encourages participation

Educates

People must be responsible for their decisions

Prevents power from being held in the hands of an elite

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6
Q

Limitations of direct democracy

A

Population size means it’s difficult and expensive

Public may not have time or interest

Public may be unwilling to make unpopular but necessary decisions

Tyranny of the majority

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7
Q

Strengths of representative democracy

A

Elected representatives have greater expertise and experience

Representatives can implement unpopular but necessary policies

Representatives are held accountable for their actions at the next election

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8
Q

Limitations of representative democracy

A

Might not always represent views of the public

Los public interest and participation can leave decisions to a all elite

Our elections make it difficult for smaller parties to win meaning many views can go unrepresented

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9
Q

What is democracy

A

A system of rule based upon govt of the people, by the people and for the people

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10
Q

What is a referendum

A

A vote in which citizens are asked to decide on a political question

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11
Q

Are referendums bonding on parliament

A

Parliament is sovereign so has ultimate power over lawmaking but ignoring a referendum result would undermine parliaments legitimacy

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12
Q

How much influence does parliament and the govt have over referendums

A

Parliament decide when there is to be a referendum

Decide threshold value

Decide wording of question

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13
Q

How do referendums promote greater democracy

A

By giving the public a chance to register their views

Changes to the constitution gain greater legitimate of they secure public support

Encourage greater political education

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14
Q

How do referendums not promote democracy

A

Turnout is low

Undermines role of MPs who are suppose to represent the people

Don’t always settle issues eg Scottish independence

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15
Q

What is apathy

A

People don’t vote due to lack of interest

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16
Q

What is hapathy

A

People are content with the way things are so do not vote

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17
Q

Advantages of more referendums

A

Allows public to block unpopular laws

Avoid broken promises

Wider range of issues voted on

18
Q

Disadvantages of more referendums

A

Existing low turnout

Tyranny of the majority

19
Q

What is a recall election

A

Electorate signs a petition calling for a vote to remove an elected official before the next election

20
Q

Disadvantages of recall elections

A

Tyranny of the minority

It can take a sizeable majority to elect an individual but only a small minority to trigger a recall

21
Q

What is a primary election

A

An election held by a political party to choose a candidate for an upcoming election

Open-all voters in constituency
Closed-restricted to party members only

22
Q

Disadvantages of primary elections

A

Low turnout could leave the decisions to small number of unrepresentative voters

There is no guarantee that voters would pick more diverse candidates than party leaders

23
Q

What ways can people participate in politics

A

Voting - general, local etc

Petitions/e petitions

Pressure groups

Write to mp

Protesting

Join a political party

24
Q

What is partisan dealignment

A

Where voters no longer strongly identify with a party and those support changes between parties fr election to election

Eg identified with new labour but now corbyn has turned more left so don’t identify with it anymore

25
Q

What is class dealignment

A

When a class of people who would generally support one party do not identify with it anymore

26
Q

Parliamentary democracy

A

Government sits in parliament

Government is accountable to parliament

House of Commons is elected House of Lords is not

Parliament is the highest source of authority

27
Q

What is democracy based on?

A

Political participation

Political equality

28
Q

What are the features of direct democracy

A

Popular participation is direct

Popular participation is unmediated

Popular participation is continuous

29
Q

Features of elections

A

Free fair regular elections

Universal suffrage

Voters have a choice

30
Q

Features of representative democracy

A

Indirect

Mediated

Limited

31
Q

Features of UK democracy

A 
Democratic elections
Parliament
Pressure groups
Referendums
Devolution
The European Parliament
32
Q

Features of parliamentary democracy

A

Parliament is the highest source of political authority

Government is accountable to Parliament

Members of the govt are drawn from Parliament

33
Q

Features of liberal democracy

A

Indirect and representative

Fred and fair elections

Guaranteed civil liberties and individual rights

34
Q

Problems with Elections

A

Non elected bodies eg House of Lords

Fptp distorts electoral preferences

35
Q

Problems with universal suffrage

A

Imprisoned convicts and mentally incapable can’t vote

Doesn’t mean people vote

36
Q

Problems with electoral choice

A

Two party system

Parties policies have become more similar

37
Q

What is devolution

A

1998 creation of a Scottish Parliament, Welsh assembly and a Northern Irish assembly

38
Q

How did devolution strengthen democracy?

A

Gave constituent nations their own voice

Refined representative democracy by given nations a separate way to view national issues

Widened opportunity for political participation

39
Q

Problems with devolution

A

Limited powers

Hasn’t advanced democracy in England

40
Q

Problems with the EU

A

Weakest institution with little policy making

Rule from Brussels threatens sovereign power

41
Q

What is majority rule

A

The rule that the views or interests of the majority should take precedence over those of the minority

42
Q

How to enhance democracy

A

Referendums
Lowering voting age
Compulsory voting
Digital democracy

Politics (8 decks)

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