Democracy

Question 1

Out of fashion until 18th Century

Answer 1

Thomas Paine 18th cent radical writer
Wrote than in a small colony where it is poss or all to come together & ppt directly in gov - Athenian type democracy could exist
BUT in large area, with increased populations , representatives would be needed
America = influenced by this in constitution 1787

Question 2

Ancient Greece

Answer 2

practised in small city-state comprising of 40,000 citizens
Any citizens aged over 20 could attend
Met 40 times a year to discuss issues

Question 3

Representative Democracy

Answer 3

gov - derived from the people
answerable to them via reps gathered in the popularly elected legislature
650 MPs represent the people
Freely elected by their constituents whose needs they should represent
Represent the interest of the voters as they understand them - rather than acting as a delegate
HOC - is not socially representatives

Question 4

Direct Democracy

Answer 4

Involves people power
Not practical to carry out like in Greece
Switzerland - closest approximation to Greek model
US still has town meetings - New England - not well attended
self-employed, retired or unemployed - cannot accurately reflect opinion of local citizens

Question 5

Referendums

Answer 5

Public Vote on a single issue of public policy
Clement Attlee ‘ devices alien to our traditions’
‘the instruments of demagogues and dictators’
Most held to decide on Qs considered too difficult or too crucial for leg to decide on its own
Issue splits parties or when gov wish to protect themselves from any negative electoral effects it might have on them

Question 6

MPs Representatives or Delegates?

Answer 6

Edmund Burke - MPs should not be considered as delegates

should first be considered as members of parliament - representing the one interest of the nation

Question 7

Sweden Referendums

Answer 7

held if appropriate
advisory only
1955 gov ignored public vote to continue driving on the left
ministers changed to right

Question 8

Switzerland Referendums

Answer 8

single issue voting
built into regular machinery of gov
held on a 3 monthly basis
Binding - rather than advisory

BUT
Britain has Parliamentary Sovereignty - only P can cast a decisive vote
Unlikely than MPs would defy against popular will of country

Question 9

Arguments For Referendums

Answer 9

Encourage PPTs
Bogdanor ‘might improve quality of relationship between gov & people’
Saving Democracy
Stimulate involvement in political process
Electorate better informed
Specify their view on a particular issue
Strengthen hand of gov
Good at tackling issues which cut across party lines

Question 10

Arguments Against Referendums

Answer 10

Britain - representative democracy
Complex devices for electorate
Only tell state of public opinion at particular time
Might vote for wrong reasons
Campaigns - expensive - advantages to well-funded groups

Question 11

Referendums in Britain

Answer 11

1975 - European Economic Community Vote
2011 - AV Vote
2014 - Scottish Independence
2016 - EU Referendum

Question 12

Brexit

Answer 12

Remain - 48.1%
Leave - 51.9%
Turnout - 72.2%

Question 13

WHY DID LEAVE WIN

Economics

Answer 13

Warned there would be dire economic consequences
Uk treasury, Bank of England etc all predicted recession & a decline in the UKs economic fortunes
General disillusionment with senior politicians & experts in the country
Stressed economic benefits of EU membership - many parts - northeast and west - parts of west country - benefits not apparent
Did not seem to be very much to lose by leaving
Life of Brian “what did the European Union ever do for us”

Question 14

WHY DID LEAVE WIN

Immigration

Answer 14

Strong leave votes in areas with relatively few EU migrants - fear of immigration
Turkey huge part
Communities - large scale immigration- mainly migrant agricultural workers- leave- felt their communities were being overrun by foreigners -
Lincolnshire, East Anglia, Essex and Parts of Kent

Question 15

WHY DID LEAVE WIN

Personalities

Answer 15

Leave campaigners caught the imagination of voters
Boris & Nigel- not seen as members of the ‘old guard’ that had let Britain down in the past
Farage- outsider
Johnson- seen as something of a maverick-
Viewed as fresh & more honest

Question 16

WHY DID LEAVE WIN

Labour Party

Answer 16

Difficult to campaign for remain 
Deeply divided over leadership 
State of disarray 
Lack of enthusiasm in campaign 
Suspicion Corbyn did not want to stay 
Left wing- traditionally against EU

Question 17

Age & Voting

Brexit

Answer 17

27% 18-24 leave
60% of over 65 leave !!
Return of non-voters
As many as 2 million who don’t normally vote, did vote
72% turnout
Many - disillusioned non-voters- largely blue collar workers & unemployed
Voted leave- chance to be heard

Question 18

Scottish Independence 2014

Answer 18

Turnout -84.59%

NO vote - 55.30%