Democracy and Participation Flashcards

1
Q

Define a think tank

A

A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to issues.

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2
Q

What’s a lobbyist?

A

Someone who is paid by clients to seek to influence gov on their behalf.

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3
Q

What was the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal?

A
  • The Guardian uncovered that he had repeatedly lobbied two companies who were paying him +£100,000 a year.
  • used his office 16 times for business meetings.
  • he breached paid advocacy rules
  • he eventually resigned, and his constituency North Shropshire voted Lib Dems instead (Nov 2021) Was a safe seat Con
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4
Q

What is the extent of regulation for lobbyists?

A
  • Ministers and top civil servants are banned from lobbying their former colleagues for two years after they leave gov.
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5
Q

What was Cameron’s lobbying scandal and why was this ironic?

A
  • In 2021, he was lobbying his work for Green-sill Capital
  • Lobbyists have to join a register, set up by Cameron in 2014
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6
Q

What are individual rights?

A

Rights that relate to independence, such as freedom of expression, freedom of movement, and the right to strike and protest.

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7
Q

What are collective rights?

A
  • A community has rights.
  • Right for religious groups to not be questioned
  • Right for a community to be protected from terrorism
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8
Q

What are the pros of Direct Democracy?

A
  • People feel more involved
  • High participation
  • Educates citizens
  • People have a say in all decisions
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9
Q

What are the cons of direct democracy?

A

Can be influenced by others
Less likely to participate as too frequent
Complex issues
Tyranny of majority
Emotive decisions

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10
Q

What’s an essential feature of representative democracy?

A

Accountability

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11
Q

What are the key features of representative democracy?

A
  1. Free fair and regular elections
  2. Universal suffrage (right to vote)
  3. Legislature
  4. Decision on majority
  5. Broad spectrum of parties reaching broad ideas
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12
Q

What is social representation?

A

Society is represented in the UK political system.
E.g 1/2 of Parliament would need to be women

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13
Q

What is constituency representation?

A

Focusing on the interests of a constituency as a whole, and listening to them when deciding on an issue.

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14
Q

What % of eligible voters participated in the 1998 referendum on whether to create a London mayor/assembly?

A

34%

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15
Q

How many members did the conservatives have in the 1950s?

A

3million

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16
Q

What was the turnout of the 2001 general election?

A

59%

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17
Q

What was the turnout of the 1950 election?

A

84%

18
Q

Define ‘participation crisis’.

A

Lack of engagement with the political system.

19
Q

What is a ‘Democratic deflect’?

A
  • Deficiency in the democratic system as a result of decisions being taken by people whose appointment lacks democratic input/ accountability.
20
Q

What are the main four points why the UK is suffering a participation crisis?

A
  • Falling voter turnout
  • Party membership
  • Lack of choice
  • Public trust
21
Q

What are the three main reasons why the UK is not suffering a participation crisis?

A

Pressure groups
Social media
High engagement

22
Q

What is the proof of falling voter turnout?

A
  • General election turnout has been falling since 1979
  • 67% turnout for 2019
  • Turnout was 59% in 2001
23
Q

How many members does the Conservative party have?

A

170,000

24
Q

What is political apathy?

A

A lack of interest/awareness of contemporary events and political issues that affect society.

25
Q

What are examples to show high engagement in the political system?

A

Voter turnout hasn’t dropped below 60% since 2001.
Scottish independence ref gained 85% turnout
Brexit ref was 72% turnout.

26
Q

What is ‘hapathy’?

A

General failure of public to engage with politics as they are content with the current situation.

27
Q

What is a safe seat?

A

A constituency where it is highly unlikely that a seat will change to one party from another

28
Q

How does democratic deficit happen?

A
  • First past the post as it’s discriminatory towards smaller parties
  • House of Lords have considerable influence
  • ECHR isn’t binding so individual rights under threat
29
Q

Define suffrage.

A

Ability to vote

30
Q

Define franchise.

A

Right to vote

31
Q

Who can vote?

A

People over 18
UK nationals who lived abroad for less than 15yrs

32
Q

Who cannot vote?

A

Prisoners
Under 18s
Members of the Lords

33
Q

What act extended the voting age to 16 in all Scottish Elections?

A

Scottish Elections reduction of voting age act 2016

34
Q

Why should we reform the UK FPTP system?

A
  • Proportional representation is the norm in Europe
  • Majority voted centre, left, or progressive parties but we got a conservative gov with a large majority
  • House of Lords is undemocratic
35
Q

What are 4 positives of UK democracy?

A
  • We have a devolved gov for Scotland, Wales, and NI, and an elected Major for some English cities.
  • We have a wide range of political parties and pressure groups.
  • Independent judiciary.
  • Free media that challenges gov and politicians.
36
Q

What are 3 negatives of UK democracy?

A

-underrepresented minority groups through FPTP
-HofL lack democratic legitimacy
-Lack of citizen right protection.

37
Q

What % of voters age 18-24 voted in 2010?

A

44%

38
Q

What % of 18-24 yr olds voted in 2017?

A

64%

39
Q

What is the turnout on average in Australia?

A

+90%

40
Q

What was the turnout for the West Midlands mayoral election in 2017?

A

27%

41
Q

What was the turnout for 2016 Scottish Parliament election?

A

56%