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A level politics > Democracy and participation# > Flashcards

Democracy and participation# Flashcards

1
Q

Direct democracy

A

a form of democracy in which the electorate decides on policy initiatives without elected representatives

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2
Q

Representative democracy

A

Type of democracy where people are elected to represent the electorate in making decisions and are expected to exercise judgement, can be held to account and removed or voted in at elections

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3
Q

Advantages of direct democracy

A
  1. Equal weight to all votes
  2. encourages participation
  3. develops a sense of community
  4. people take responsibility for their own decisions
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4
Q

Disadvantages of direct democracy

A
  1. Impractical in a large, heavily populated modern state where decision-making is complicated
  2. open to manipulation from speakers
  3. minority viewpoints are disregarded
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5
Q

Advantages of representative democracy

A
  1. Practical in a large system
  2. pressure groups form to represent different interests
  3. promoting debate and encouraging pluralist democracy
  4. ‘tyranny of the majority’
  5. people can be held accountable
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6
Q

Disadvantages of representative democracy

A
  1. Parties and pressure groups often run by elites with their own agenda
  2. minorities may still be underrepresented
  3. politicians are skillfull at avoiding accountability
  4. politicians may be corrupt or incompetent
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7
Q

UK Referendums

A

EU 1975 and 2016; change Westminster voting system 2011

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8
Q

2015 Recall of MPs Act

A

If an MP is sentenced to be imprisoned or suspended from Parliament for more than 21 days a petition may be triggered, if signed by at least 10% of eligible voters in their constituency a by-election is called

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9
Q

Legitimacy

A

The legal right to exercise power

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10
Q

Democratic deficit

A

A perceived deficiency in the way a particular democratic body works

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11
Q

Participation crisis

A

A lack of engagement in the political system e.g. when a large number of people choose not to vote

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12
Q

Average turnout at elections from 1945 to 1997

A

76%

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13
Q

Average turnout at May 2016 local elections (England)

A

33.8%

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14
Q

Stoke-on-trent voting

A

February 2017 38.2% in the by-election; 2015 49.9% general election

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15
Q

Conservative party membership stats

A

150,000 in 2016 down from 400,000 in the mid-90s

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16
Q

Labour party membership stats

A

190,000 post-1997 election up to 515,000 by July 2016

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17
Q

Liberal democrats party membership stats

A

70-80,000 from 2016 to now

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18
Q

Minor parties membership stats

A

(2013 to 2016) Green: 13,800 to 55,000; UKIP: 32,400 to 39,000

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19
Q

Participation crisis agree

A

‘Hapathy’ (e.g. 2001 and 2005 Tony Blair’s government); depends on the issue at stake (e.g. Scottish referendum 84.6%); levels of trust decreased in politics and politicians

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20
Q

Participation crisis disagree

A

Increase in demonstrations (e.g. fox hunting, Iraq war, Brexit); emergence of social media (e.g. Momentum movement and more youth participation through social media); e-petitions (e.g. road-charging petition December 2017 was signed by 1.8 million people)

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21
Q

Voting to be made compulsory

A

Social duty and a right; it would produce a parliament that is more representative; politicians would have to run better quality campaigns

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22
Q

People who CANNOT vote

A

Under 18s; EU citizens (apart from those in the Irish Republic, and they can vote in local elections); members of HoL; prisoners (challenged by the European Court of Human Rights); convicts of illegal or corrupt electoral practice (barred for 5 years); those compulsorily detained in psychiatric hospitals

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23
Q

Widening the franchise - Constituencies

A

Two types: counties and boroughs (towns). In counties you could vote if you owned freehold property worth at least 40 shillings/£2 in value. In boroughs it depended on local rules and traditions; in some it was all freemen and in other you had to own property or pay a local tax.

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24
Q

Widening the franchise - Plural voting

A

Allowed wealthy men who owned property in more than one constituency to vote more than once

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25
Q

Widening the franchise - Women

A

Excluded from voting, however some women owned property and so exercised the franchise

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26
Q

Approximate number of men voting by the end of the 19th century

A

400,000

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27
Q

The Great Reform Act 1832

A

Great Reform Act
- Gave vote to middle class men

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28
Q

Electorate stats post-Great Reform Act

A

650,000 voters, 5% adult population

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29
Q

Vote Extended to borough householders

A

1867

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30
Q

Vote Extended to rural householders

A

1884

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31
Q

Vote Extended to all men over 21 and women over 30

A

1918

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32
Q

Vote Equalised to both sexes at 21

A

1928

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33
Q

End of plural voting (one person, one vote from then on)

A

1948

34
Q

Voting age reduced to 18

A

1969

35
Q

National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) established

A

1897; under Millicent Fawcett

36
Q

Techniques used by NUWSS

A

Lobbying MPs, peaceful demonstrations and petitions

37
Q

Women’s Social and Political Union (WSUP) established

A

1903; under Emmeline Pankhurst

38
Q

Emily Davidson threw herself in front of the king’s horse

A

1913; at the Epsom Derby

39
Q

Lowering the voting age to 16 (FOR)

A

Increase in political participation; another legal right (on top of joining the army etc.); students are informed about politics through citizenship lessons at school

40
Q

Lowing the voting age to 16 (AGAINST)

A

Few 16 year olds are in full time employment; lack necessary life experience and maturity; don’t pay taxes

41
Q

Sectional groups (interest groups)

A

Type of pressure group which seeks to promote the interests of an occupation or another group within society (e.g. Law Society)

42
Q

Cause groups (promotional groups)

A

Type of pressure group which is focused on achieving a particular goal or drawing attention to an issue or group of related issues (e.g. Greenpeace)

43
Q

Social movements

A

Type of pressure group which is similar to cause groups but more loosely structured; usually politically radical and seek to achieve a single objective (e.g. Camps for Climate Action)

44
Q

Insider groups

A

Type of group which relies on it’s connections with ministers and civil servants to achieve its goals (e.g. National Union of Farmers); these groups tend to have objectives in line with the government increasing their leverage

45
Q

Outsider groups

A

Type of group which are not consulted with by the government, and are usually far outside the political mainstream and so often enter into dialogue with the government over the issue (e.g. the ‘Occupy’ movement)

46
Q

Factor of pressure group effectiveness: Resources

A

A large membership paying subscriptions is going to mean that the group has more funding, with which they can employ various people and fund various campaign trips (e.g. CND had an estimated 110,000 members in the mid-80s)

47
Q

Factor of pressure group effectiveness: Tactics and Leadership

A

Capable leadership is vital for success, and some groups may collaborate to reach a common goal (e.g. RSPCA and League Against Cruel Sport on fox hunting)

48
Q

Factor of pressure group effectiveness: Public Support

A

Pressure groups who have an agenda in favour of public opinion are usually more successful (e.g. Snowdrop Campaign was in favour with the public because of the 1996 Dunblane Primary School massacre)

49
Q

Factor of pressure group effectiveness: Government attitudes

A

Inside contacts with government ministers and civil servants is often key to success (e.g. National Farmers Union’s links with Defra)

50
Q

Think tank

A

A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic, social or political issues

51
Q

Lobbyist

A

Someone who is paid by clients to seek to influence government or parliament on their behalf, particularly when legislation is being considered

52
Q

Human Rights Act 1998

A

Fair and equal treatment under the law; freedom of expression; freedom of conscience; right to vote; right to belong to an association (e.g. a trade union); freedom of movement

53
Q

The Magna Carter

A

1215; presented to King John by the nobles who disapproved of his tyrannical rule; established a foundation of rights for every citizen

54
Q

The European Convention on Human Rights

A

1950; European Court of Human Rights set up in Strasbourg

55
Q

The Equality Act

A

2010; brought together previous legislation into one act including: 1970 Equal Pay Act, 1975 Sex Discrimination Act and the 1976 Race Relations Act

56
Q

‘rights-based culture’

A

A culture that’s arguably developed in the UK since the passing of the Human Rights Act (1998); all new legislation must comply with the act

57
Q

A culture that’s arguably developed in the UK since the passing of the Human Rights Act (1998); all new legislation must comply with the act

A

4240 in 2000 to 15,600 in 2013

58
Q

The right to privacy

A

Article 8 of the Human Rights Act (1998)

59
Q

The right to freedom of expression

A

Article 10 of the Human Rights Act (1998)

60
Q

Explain and analyse three ways in which rights are protected in UK politics?

A
  • Human rights act 1999 (Iran vs Secretary of state)
  • judicial review (e.g. 2016, overturned plan to deny legal aid to immigrants.)
  • common law
  • through democracy
  • parliamentary sovereignty ( In 2022, the government passed the ‘Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act’, which restricted protesting rights, but the government said this was to protect the public from disruption.)
61
Q

Describe the main functions of pressure group activity in the UK.

A

Education
- provide info and education about a specific cause
Participation
- offer another way for citizens to be politically active
Representative
- allows there to be voice for those who aren’t represented

62
Q

Analyse and evaluate the argument against rights protection being left to parliament

A
  • parliament is more representative of the people so it betters understands different individuals
  • parliament introduced and passed all the acts relating to human rights
  • MPs represent their constituency and can raise issues of the citizens within there
63
Q

What are other organisations that are similiair to pressure groups? (2)

A

Think-tanks
the group that has the specific purpose of formulating and developing policy ideas

Lobbyists
professionals who meet with key political figures and persuade them

64
Q

what is the difference between sectional and causal groups?

what is the difference between insider and outsider groups?

A

sectional = look after their own section of society
eg BMA or muslim pressure group

causal = campaign for a particular issue
eg. RSPCA or oxfam

insider = links to government
eg . marcus rashford

outsider = do not have access

65
Q

2 reasons how pressure groups can be succesful + examples

A
  1. Expertise - more likely to be listened to by the government and public
    eg. In 2016, the AA provided their own research and statistics to encorage the government to increase the penalties for using a mobile phone whilst driving
  2. Celebrity endorsements - can raise the profile of a cause and may help draw more members to the group
    eg. Joanna Lumley in 2009 and the Ghurka Justice campaign secured equal rights for british and commonwealth soldiers
66
Q

2 reasons how pressure groups fail + examples

A
  1. The group alienates the public - can lose support for its goals
    eg. In 2021, insulate Britain was considered unfavorableee due to strikes that blocked the M25
  2. The goal contradicts government policy
    eg. Conservative government is determined to reduce policies for a 7-day NHS so BMA proposals against it has failed
67
Q

3 ways democracy can be improved

A
  • digital elections - could vote from the comfort of their own home
  • higher turnout thus means more people voting as opposed to the 60% range that is typically of the current political climate.

-removal of party whips on key votes or votes in general within the UK.
-Although partisanship and party loyalty is key in order for the government to run, ultimately the role of MP’s in Parliament is to represent their constituents
- As a result, removing the use of party whips who ensure that MP’s vote in line with their party leaders - as seen most recently within the Conservative party voting on air strikes in Syria 2017- MP may be able to represent the views of their constituents more directly and effectively.

  • more frequent elections. = fixed term parliament act Four years allows MP’s and the government to (particularly within the first two years) make unfavorable decisions, as they are aware they are still safe in their position. More frequent elections may perhaps cause MP’s to take the views of their constituents more seriously and thus, attempt to make improvements accordingly, in order to save their seat.
  • As seen in America, the use of elections to the House every two years, causes Congressmen to have the priority of ‘pork-barrel’ politics, as ultimately, if they do not carry out the wishes of their state, they will lose their seat. If this system was implemented in the UK, perhaps more representation would follow.
68
Q

example of pressure group having access to executives and bureaucrats

A

Marcus Rashford - free school meals (2020)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson phoned the England striker on 7 November to tell him there would be £396 million of support to provide free school meals this Christmas, next Easter and summer holidays.

support: Rashford, who set up a petition for the cause which more than a million people signed, said it would improve the lives of nearly 1.7 million children.

69
Q

example of pressure group lobbying the executive

A

BMA’s lobbying led to a change to tapered annual allowance rules - which has removed consultants with a threshold income of less than £200,000 from the effects of the taper tax

the vast majority of doctors (except for the very highest earners) will no longer be affected by the taper.

in March 2020, the chancellor did make significant changes to the tapered annual allowance rules.

70
Q

advantages of pressure groups (2)

A

“interest groups allow citizens to influence policy makers between elections
- Marcus rashford ‘‘end child poverty’ petition - over 1 million signatures
- voted against it in October 2020 but with more pressure voted in favour in november with adittional pressue
- able to represent citizens who may not have access to executives

Direct action and support to allow representation
- BLM 2020 = garnered media attention = 210,000 people worldwide = focused on the institutional racism that was still around in the coutry

limitation: policing bill 2021 -limits the right to protest = violation of hra

71
Q

Features of Democracy - elections

A

1.) Elections - free and fair each everyone has an equal say

limitation : safe seats and wasted votes = in theory not everyone has an equal vote

72
Q

Features of Democracy - representation

A

Representation - those who are elected must act in the best interests of their constituents eg. zrah parking tickets 2021

limitation = whips mean that parties may be more likely to vote in accordance with aprty lines -

however eg. recently mps have often defied the whip to 32 conservative mps rebelled against lockdown restrictions
- 2017 parliamentary vote on airstrikes

73
Q

Features of democracy - Participation

A

people can get involved and contribute to politics and policy-making
eu referendum = 72%
however, turnout = low = eg. coventry city council elections 2022 averaged 22%
general election 2019 = 67%

people might participate in different ways = More than 210,000 people have joined protests in the UK BLM

74
Q

Features of democracy - Accountability

A

those elected to are held to account eg. Select comittees

however this isn’t effective = PMQs Johnson , Votes of no confidences

75
Q

Features of democracy - education and information

A

public are well educated politically and have access to accurate information from trustworthy sources

limitation = social media is extremely fragmented and misleading
eg. 2016 EU referendum = 350 million a week wigh nigel farage criticised

76
Q

Features of democracy - civil rights

A

rights of people are protected and defended by laws and courts - tigere

limitation uk lacks embedes sets of civil rights
- Queen speech 2022 - HRA repealed and new British bill of rights

77
Q

Examples of insider pressure groups

A

BMA ( British Medical Association)

78
Q

Example of an Outsider pressure group

A

Fathers 4 Justice

79
Q

Example of sectional pressure groups

A

NFU ( National Farmers Union)

80
Q

Example of causal pressure groups

A

Liberty ( civil rights)

81
Q

Three Reasons for Holding a Referendum in the UK ( 9 marks)

A

Democratic - more democratic than general elections in the UK (which use FPTP) as they give the people a direct say in politics BUT it is only simplified to two choices e.g Yes and No for 2014 Scottish Independence

Participation - encourages political participation during a participation crisis and stimulate interest e.g Brexit referendum encouraged more young people to vote(60% of registered voters voted from 18 - 24)

Successful - referendums have been used successfully in several democracies, and on several occasions, in the UK e.g Good Friday Agreement brought an end to the Troubles in Ireland

82
Q

Three Arguments for Retaining First Past the Post (9 marks)

A

Strong Government - usually results in strong governments that can deliver a mandate, no hung parliament/gridlock e.g Tony Blair 179 majority BUT this is not always the case: Con-LibDem 2010 coalition brought tension and 2017 Theresa May minority gov. used confidence and supply with DUP so had no mandate

Avoids Extremism - retains traditional 2-party system (Con and Lab), avoids extremism e.g UKIP and BNP

Simple - other systems such as PR and AV might be too difficult for some people (e.g first-time voters and those not as engaged in politics), which could lead to votes being wasted/participation crisis e.g 2011 AV vote only had a 42% turnout and the campaign against it advertised it as being too difficult

A level politics (32 decks)

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