Democracy and Participation

Question 1

What democracy does the UK have?

Answer 1

A representative Democracy

Question 2

Name 3 Advantages of Direct Democracy?

Answer 2

More cooperation
Better Political Education (AV vote 2011)
Equal votes (Vote counts the same)
Can meet the wishes of the people (People vote directly)
Purest Form
Transparent

Question 3

Name 2 disadvantages of Direct Democracy?

Answer 3

Questions can be manipulated (Yes/No in EU 2016 referendum had to change to remain/leave)

Voters may not be experts (Not studied it)

Time consuming (Years to reach decisions)

Expensive (Cabinet Office spent £142.2m on the EU 2016)

Question 4

Name 3 Advantages of Representative Democracies?

Answer 4

Can elect people with expertise (Elect an MP)

More Practical

Better Representation (Protect interests of minorites)

Can hold People to account

Question 5

Name 3 Disadvantages of Representative Democracies?

Answer 5

Some MP’s may only represent the people who voted for them.

Doesn’t equate to a full representation of the electorate. (Some MP’s only help people within their party)

Low turnout (2011 AV Vote or can win with small majority)

MP’s act out of self-interest

Question 6

Name some reasons why people think there should be democratic reform:

Answer 6

To improve voter turnout (2014 EU election only 34% turnout)

Democratic Deficit ruining politics

FTPT system creates two party system (safe seats and majority not needed)

House of lords could be fully elected (hereditary peers get in_

Question 7

What does ‘Suffrage’ mean?

Answer 7

Having the right to vote in an election and engage in politics

Question 8

When was the Great reform act published and what did it state?

Answer 8

1832

Stated that rotten boroughs were to be abolished to make it fairer, And many more middle class citizens were allowed to vote.

Question 9

What happened in the 1918 1928 and 1969 representation of the people act?

Answer 9

1918- Some Women over 30 who owned land were given the vote
1928- Men and Women were given the vote on the same terms
1969- People 18 or over could have the right to vote.

Question 10

What is a Pressure Group?

Answer 10

An organised group of individuals who work together to influence a particular political policy?

Question 11

What are the 4 types of Pressure Groups, What do each of these groups do?

Answer 11

Insider Groups- Work ‘inside’ the political spectrum through influencing MP’s by keeping regular contact with decision makers. (Taxpayers Alliance, 38 degrees and CBI)

Outsider Groups: Work ‘outside’ the political spectrum by gaining public support through direct action, protesting and propaganda. (Fathers4Justice, Occupy Movement)

Sectional Groups: Represent a certain ‘section’ of society and have a narrowed support to protect the rights of the people within the group. (House Builders Federation and British Medical Association)

Promotional Groups: Single issue group who promote ideas who will help the public in general to create a large membership (Stop HS2, Greenpeace)

Question 12

What do Pressure Groups do?

Answer 12

Represent people within society by speaking up and defending minorities (Insider groups do this!!)

Being a platform for government scrutiny

Ensuring there is political debate on matters concerning people in Britain.

To educate people about political matters. (Migration watch uk)

To influence policy and to bring up political participation.

Question 13

What effects the success of a pressure group?

Answer 13

Membership size
Funding
Access to decision makers
Public Support

Question 14

What’s a think tank, can you name same examples Finlay?

Answer 14

A collection of experts who provide advice to a solution to specific political, social or economic problems.

Such as the centre for policy studies, the Fabian society and the centre for social justice.

Question 15

When was the: 
Magna Carta 
Bill of rights 
European convention on human rights 
European court of justice,
Signed and what did they do?

Answer 15

Magna Carta: 1215 and Stated that the monarchy cant abuse their power.

Bill of rights; 1689- Parliament were given the right to free speech, free elections and monarchy were given less power.

European convention on human rights: 1953 UK government actions needed to be in compliance with the ECHR.

European Court of Justice: 1973, Protecting the human rights of workers within Britain.

Question 16

When was the: 
Data Protection Act
Human Rights Act
Equality Act
Signed?

Answer 16

Data Protection Act: 1984, and it ensured the personal information that were held by public organisations were protected.

Human Rights Act: 1998, and this act meant that the European convention on human rights became codified into British Law.

Equality Act; `2010, Protect workers from discrimination in the workplace by ensuring there human rights were in place by codifying it onto a single document.