Democracy and participation Flashcards
What is power?
The ability to make people do things even though they might not want to (e.g. a criminal with a gun has power)
What is authority?
The given right to influence other people’s behaviour and actions
What is meant when a government is legitimate?
When a government or politcal institution has the authority to hold power and make rules as long as they have won an election
What is democracy?
When the people have a say in government through equal participation
Describe direct democracy
All political decisions are voted on by every citizen/person
What is an example of direct democracy?
- Ancient Greece - all citizens attended mass meetings to vote on key issues
- US town hall meetings
What is indirect/representative democracy?
People elect politicians who will represent their views. They are held accountable at the next election if they’re unpopular by being voted out
What are the advantages of direct democracy?
- genuine people power
- no need for politicians
- encourages participation and education
- people take responsibility for descisions
- prevents concentrated power in the hands of the elite
What are the disadvantages of direct democracy?
- population size might make it difficult and expensive
- the public may not have time, interest and may be uneducated
- wealthy groups can distort debate
- might be unwilling to make unpopular yet necessary decisions
- tyranny of the majority can mean that minority groups may be oppressed
What are the advantages of representative democracy?
- practical
- representatives are more experienced and educated
- will implement unpopular but necessary decisions
- avoid tyranny of the majority by representing all groups
What are the disadvantages of representative democracy?
- might not always represent public views
- parties have influence over representatives - party whips within parliament
- low public interest and participation
- elections caan make it harder for smaller parties to emerge
What is direct democracy dependent on?
- size of population
- cost
- time available
What is a referendum?
A vote in which citizens are asked to decide a political question
How binding are referendum results on parliament?
Referendums are advisory and do not have to be obeyed
Why are referendums only advisory?
Parliament is sovereign and has ultimate power when it comes to law making
How much influence does parliament have over referendum results?
Although they have parliamentary sovereignty and can legally ignore the result of referendum, ignoring the result would undermine the legitimacy of parliament and MPs would be held accountable at the next election.
Where are initiatives carried out?
In the US
What are initiatives?
Citizens collect a required number of signatures to trigger a vote on a new bill or on an ammendment to the state constitution
What is the threshold in California for initiatives?
- 8% for constitution
- 5% for statute
(percentage of people who voted for state governor)
What are the two types of referendums in America?
- legislative
- popular/veto
What is a legislative referendum?
State legislatures put bills and ammendments up for a vote in congress
What is a popular/veto referendum?
Voters collect signatures to trigger a vote on a passed bill
What are the two types of issues normally decided by a referendum?
- constitutional reforms - how a state is governed
- local referendums - to measure public support for new policies
What are the sort of issues voted on in the US via referendums?
- constitutional
- social
What are examples of referendums in the US for social issues?
- Arkansas - minimum wage initiative
- Since 2012 9 states have legalised marijuana via initiatives and referendums
Why has the use of referendums increased since 1997?
- Labour wanted to make a number of substantail consitutional reforms e.g. devolution
- Media coverage improved the education and ability to vote on constitutional issues
What convention did Blair’s labour government introduce?
That major consitutional issues shpuld be decided by a referendum
Is all of parliament elected in the UK general election?
- The House of Commons is the elected, dominant ‘lower house’
- The House of Lords is the appointed, subordinate ‘upper house’
What happens if a single party wins a majority in the House of Commons?
The leader becomes prime minister and makes up the government
What are the differences between parliament and government?
**Parliament **
- legislative branch
- debates and approves new laws while scrutinising government work
**Government **
- executive branch
- proposes laws
- implements laws when they’re approved
What is parliamentary democracy?
- elects individuals to represent in parliament
- government is drawn from parliament
- executive is held accountable
- executive is dependent on parliament
What is presidential democracy?
- public elects individuals to elect representatives in congress (delegates)
- public elects president - head of government
- executive power is separated from legislative power
What percentage of the population could vote between 1265 and 1852?
5%
Which acts reformed elections via expanding franchise by lowering property requirements?
- Great reform act 1832
- Reform act 1867
- Representation of the people act 1884
What was the Ballot act 1884?
Made open ballots secret during elections
What was the representation of the people act 1918?
All men over 21 could vote and women over 30 could vote
What was the equal franchise act 1928?
Lowered the voting age for women from 30 to 21
What was the representation of the people act 1969?
Extended franchise by lowering the voting age from 21 to 18
Who can’t currently vote in UK general elections?
- if you don’t hold UK citizenship
- Members of the House of Lords
- Prisoners
- Someone who has been convicted in the last 5 years for corruption during elections
Why are there so many elections in the Uk if Parliament is sovereign?
Due to devolution
What other elections do citizens participate in in the UK other than general elections?
- Scottish parliament
- Welsh Assembly
- Northern Ireland assembly
- Local governments
- Mayors
- Police and crime commissioners
What is the delegate theory of representation?
Constituents voice their opinions and the representative votes for it in parliament
What is the Trustee/Burkean theory of representation?
MPs are experienced and educated so they should consider constituents views but use their own judgement to represent national views over local interest
What is the mandate theory of representation?
Mps should vote in line with their manifesto rather than in national or local interests
How else can people participate in politics other than in elections?
- volunteering for campaigns
- donating
- writing to an MP
- Joining a political party
- Pressure groups
- e-petitions
- Government consultation
- Marches
What is government consultation?
When the government invites individuals and groups when deciding policy to understans the public’s views and opinions
How is it evidential that Uk turnout is decreasing?
1950 - 85.9% turnout
2017 - 68.8%
Why is turnout important in a representative democracy?
- Threatens governments legitimacy
- questions winning party’s mandate
Define differential turnout
The varying levels of turnout across different groups across the country
What groups cause differential turnout in the Uk?
- Age
- Class
- Race
- Region
What evidence is there of partisan dealignment in the UK?
2019 survey - 34% voters claim to be a strong supporter of a party
Define Partisan dealignment
Voters no longer strongly identify with a party meaning that support changes for parties throughout elections
What is meant by apathy?
Abstaining from voting because they’re not interested
What is meant by hapathy?
Abstaining from voting because they are largely content
What did the 2019 audit say about voter apathy and hapathy?
- 50% voters believe main parties don’t care about their needs
- 72% voters believe that the syste needs improving
- 54% voters believe that we need a strong leader who will break rules
Why is the reasons why formal participation might be healthier than previously thought?
Turnout is measured by using the number of votes and number of people on the electoral register however, owners of second homes, people registered at multiple addresses and people who have just moved house may be registered more than once but can only vote once. This shows that the electoral register is incorrect and can cause turnout to look lower than it actually is. Since 1979 on average turnout has been 9.4% higher
What is e-democracy?
political participation via the internet
What are the examples of e-democracy used in the UK?
e-petitions, social media and 38 degrees
What is 38 degrees?
An online community organising space which people can raise issues and concerns and others can join in on deciding on suitable action the government may take
What does the 2019 audit of political engagement suggest about the health of representative democracy in the UK?
- 18%, a 15 year high, of people who strongly disagree that political environment can change the way the UK is run
- 47% felt have no influence over national decision making
- 32% didn’t want to be involved in local decision making
- 30% never discuss government and politics
- 53% have not participated in any forms of online politics in the past year
What is liberal democracy?
Freedom and equality for all where the people have the power
What is a constitution?
A set of rules that lays out the powers and functions of various government institutions
Why are constitutions important in a liberal democracy?
It establishes clear limits on government power and often lists the rights belonging to citizens
What are the features of a liberal democracy?
- regular, free and fair elections
- a constitution
- entrenched civil liberties and rights
- pluralism
- tolerance to different groups
- free press to scrutinise government
What is pluralism?
A multi-party system
In what ways does the UK confom to the features of a liberal democracy?
- representative
- free and fair elections
- universal adult suffrage
- government has a mandate to lead
- government is drawn from parliament and depends on the House of Commons for survival
- Parliamentary committees scrutinise and review government
- the monarchs powers mainly lie with the prime minister
- independent judiciary
- everyone is free to participate
- multiple competing parties
- pressure groups with large membership
In what ways does the UK political system contrast a liberal democracy?
- many chose not to participate
- smaller parties are underrepresented
- House of Lords is unelected
- the head of state is the monarch
- a weak separation of powers
- large majorities in the House of Commons can lead to tyranny
- Lacks a codified and entrenched constitution
- Weak supreme court due to parliamentary sovereignty
What are the advantages of referendums and initiatives?
- gives the executive greater influence over legislation
- avoids broken promises from the government
- votes on wider ranges of issues
What are the disadvantages of referendums and initiatives?
- low turnout
- populist policies
- tyanny of the majority
- dominance of wealthy special interests
What are the advantages of recall elections?
The public has greater control over corrupt and incompetent representatives
What are the disadvantages of recall elections?
- tyranny of the minority - need less votes to remove than were needed to elect
- can be used as a protest against the government
What are the disadvantages of primary elections?
- low turnout
- might not pick diverse candidates
What are the advantages of lowering the voting age?
- youth more likely to have to deal with the consequences of the vote
- higher mandate
What are the disadvantages of lowering the voting age?
- most don’t pay taxes
- might not be informed or responsible enough
- tend to have fewer responsibilities
- youth turnout is already low so would make turnout even lower and government legitimacy would be effected
What are the advantages of compulsory voting?
- higher turnout
- greater legitimacy for winners
- civic duty rather than jury duty
What are the disadvantages of compulsory voting?
- people should have the right to decide whether to participate
- uninterested and uninformed people may vote at random
- Donkey voting
What is Donkey Voting?
voters number candidates based on order they appear on ballot then pick a random number
What are the advantages of digital democracy?
- can ask for more information on the government and other organisations
- can write to government to press for action and ask parliamentary committees to look into petitions
What are the disadvantages of digital democracy?
- creates a digital divide between those who do and don’t have access to the internet
- might not be completely secure
- could lose anonmyity
