Democracy and participation Flashcards
What are the features of democracy?
- Representation.
E.g. peoples opinions are represented to the government through general election. - Participation.
E.g. through voting, joining political parties or pressure groups, or lobbying their elected representatives or the government. - Accountability.
E.g. the government is accountable to the people as if they do a bad job it can vote in a different government. - Rule of law.
E.g. - Civil rights.
E.g. people have their rights protected by the HRA 1998.
Is direct democracy a good idea?
Ask Mr. Jones
- Yes, people can participate directly in decision making process.
E.g. ?
No, the people may not fully understand the question they are voting on.
E.g. ?
2.
Yes, the wishes of the people cannot be ignored by their elected representatives or the government
E.g.
No, the majority of people may vote for something that undermines the rights of a minority group, known as tyranny of the majority.
E.g. ?
- Yes, people can be motivated to overcome well informed about political issues.
E.g. ?
No, people may vote emotionally or for populist long term reasons, rather than taking a more considered view.
E.g. (Brexit)
4
Yes, decisions have direct authority of the people, giving them greater legitimacy.
E.g. ?
No, holding so many votes is slow and expensive, particularly in countries with large population.
E.g. ?
How has suffrage changed since the Great Reform Act 1832?
- Before 1832 very few people could vote.
E.g. only rich male landowners could vote, which was fewer than 4% of the population. - Great Reform Act 1832.
E.g. stated that 1 in 5 male adults could vote, which was 5.6% of the total population
3. Second Reform Act 1867. E.g. Great Reform Act, allowed working-class men in cites to vote if they met a property qualification, which doubled the size of the electorate. (gave much bigger scope than the)
- Third Reform Act 1887.
E.g. all working men who met a property qualification could vote, although 40% of adult men were still excluded. - Representation of the People Act 1918.
E.g. all men over 21 could vote , women over 30 who met the property qualification could vote. - Representation of the People Act 1928.
E.g. all men and women over 21 could vote (property qualification removed, women finally received the vote on equal terms as men). - Representation of the People Act 1969.
E.g. voting age lowered to 18.
What are the debates regarding universal suffrage?
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How were suffragettes significant?
- Yes, they attracted national attention and coverage in newspapers.
E.g. the Gloucester Journal ran dedicated columns on the latest outrages. - No, they used increasingly extreme methods which the public and government disapproved of.
E.g. Kew Gardens orchid house was attacked and its teahouse burned down. (made it difficult
for the government to ‘give in’ to violence by
enfranchising women) - Yes, they gained publicity by chaining themselves to public railings and gates.
E.g. Buckingham Palace was famously involved in a protest in 1914 when suffragettes handcuffed themselves to the gates.
Where chartists significant?
Yes, Chartists made petitions and submitted them to the parliament.
E.g. in their campaign for to give votes to all men over 21, to remove property qualifications for MPs and pay for MPs etc… they presented three petitions to parliament signed by millions.
No, the government often ignored the actions of Chartists.
E.g. they rejected all three petitions.
Is there a participation crisis?
1.
Yes, turnout in general elections has fallen in recent decades.
E.g. in 1950 80% of the electorate voted. In 2001 only 59% did, a record low.
No, turnout in general elections has been rising.
E.g. since 2001, general election turnout has risen, reaching 69% in 2017.
2.
Yes, non-general elections have even worse turnouts.
E.g. in 2012 the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, just 15% of the electorate voted.
No, turnout in recent referendums has also been high.
E.g. 85% voted in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and 72% in the 2016 EU referendum.
- Yes, party membership has fallen in recent decades.
E.g. since the 1950s, Conservatives had more than 2.5 million members, in 2018 they had 124,000 members.
No, party membership of some parties is increasing.
E.g. Labour has more than 500,000 members and the SNP membership has more than quadrupled since 2014.
Is there a participation crisis?
1.
Yes, turnout in general elections has fallen in recent decades.
E.g. in 1950 80% of the electorate voted. In 2001 only 59% did, a record low.
No, turnout in general elections has been rising.
E.g. since 2001, general election turnout has risen, reaching 69% in 2017.
2.
Yes, non-general elections have even worse turnouts.
E.g. in 2012 the Police and Crime Commissioner elections, just 15% of the electorate voted.
No, turnout in recent referendums has also been high.
E.g. 85% voted in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and 72% in the 2016 EU referendum.
- Yes, party membership has fallen in recent decades.
E.g. since the 1950s, Conservatives had more than 2.5 million members, in 2018 they had 124,000 members.
No, party membership of some parties is increasing.
E.g. Labour has more than 500,000 members and the SNP membership has more than quadrupled since 2014.
Were Suffragists significant?
- Yes, suffragists campaigned for the vote using peaceful constitutional methods.
E.g. petitions, speeches and marches.
No, as they made little progress.
E.g. despite decades of campaigning, women were no closer to getting the vote by 1903, which led to the formation of the suffragettes.
Is the UK a thriving representative democracy?
1.
Yes, representatives prioritise the will of their constituents over their own personal beliefs.
E.g. although most MPs supported Remain in
the 2016 EU referendum, they subsequently
voted to allow Brexit to happen. ( they are committed to representing the wishes of the public, even when they)
No, as there is a disconnection between the the MPs and the people.
E.g. most MPs in the House of Commons favoured
Remain, but the country voted Leave in
the 2016 EU referendum. (shows a
considerable disconnection between the
people and their elected representatives)
2.
Yes, turnout in general elections has fallen in recent decades.
E.g. in 1950 80% of the electorate voted. In 2001 only 59% did, a record low.
No, turnout in general elections has been rising.
E.g. since 2001, general election turnout has risen, reaching 69% in 2017.
