democracy and participation Flashcards
direct democracy
individuals express their opinions themsleves not through a elected representative
representative democracy
where an elected official represents people and makes decisions for them on their behalf
franchise
the ability to vote in public elections and referendums
what are lobbyists
people who are paid to try and influence govt to act in their interests
what is a democratic deficit
where decisions are made by those that lack legitimacy and have ben appointed without sufficient authority
participation crisis
a lack of political engagement. could be due to vote abstaining or lack of party membership
pluralist democracy
a government makes decisions as a result of living with various ideas from different social groups
strenghts of direct democracy
increased participation
legitimate decisions
educates people
weakness of direct democracy
MPs lose their influence and power
people may be uneducated and not well-informed enough to make good choices
threatens parliamentary sovereignty
advatnaged of representaive democracy
decisions made by people with good knowledge and expertise
people accept compromise
held accountable by support
avoids tyranny of the majority
What are the two main models of representative democracy
Delegate
Trustee
Forms of direct democracy in the uk
Referendums
History of democracy
Traceable back to 1215 magna Carta first limitations of power of monarch
Establishment of primacy of parliament over monarch in 1689 glorious revolution
Democracy in the uk political system
Elections- private, right, free, fair, variety of choice over seen by electoral commission
Parliament- govt formed by majority or by coalition of hung
Pressure groups- representing the minority
Forms of participation
Voting in referendums
Pressure group membership
Signing e petitions
what was the chartists
a working class movement which grew after the great reform act 1832 failure to extend the vote to universal suffrage
what did the chartists aim for
to gain political rights and influence for the working class mostly male universal suffrage
failures of the chartists
every time their demands were presented to parliament they were rejected and no demand became law
when did the chartists end
1958
who were the suffragettes
part of the votes for women campaign, they fough for the right for women to vote in the uk
failures of the suffragettes
some were imprisoned for their violent portests
successes of suffragettes
they won a partial victory by some groups of women gaining vote by representation of the people act 1928
who were the suffragists
`a group of women in 1866 who fought for equal political rights to men
failure of suffragists
JS Mill drafted an amendment to the Second Reform Bill but this was defeated by 196 votes to 73
how is HOC legitimate
MPs are elected but electoral system is not proportional and only represents majority
how is HOL legitimate
traditional authority
political influence widely recognised
but not elected
how is govt legitimate
elected with clear mandate to govern
disadvantages of representative democracy
may not represent minority
can turn into ruling of the elites rather than dispersed power
only fair if the electoral system is fair and proportional
why are referendums held
when the govt are divided on opinion
help decide important constitutional changes
entrench constitutional change
secures societies concept on legislation
the uk has a liberal democracy
free and fair election
govt is accountable to parliament
parties and pressure groups are tolerated
rule of law
independent judicial branch
the uk has not got a liberal democrcy
no codified and entrenched constitition
HofL is unelected
Pm has prerogative powers
unelected head of state
how to achieve/improve democracy
introduce a system of proportional representation
strengthen legislative checks on govt
make the ECHR binding on uk parliament
systems to unelected MPs to make them publicly accountable
improve democratic participation
lower the voting age
compulsory voting legislation
more referendums
how to improve democracy in institutions
elected second chamber to replace HOL
codified constitution - especially to regulate the powers of the PM
make ECHR binding on Uk parliament
grant further powers to devolved parliament’s to bring democracy closer to the people
features of parliamentary democracy
PM can only act with parliament consent
laws only enforced if legitimated by parliament
govt ministers are drawn from parliament
parliament ensures geographical representation
3 examples of referendums
1975 - should uk remain EU member (split issue of labour party) yes majority 67%
1997 scottish parliament devolution - constitutional change (voter turnout of 74%)
2011 AV - coalition govt was divided on the constituional change - a large no majority with low turnout
strength of democracy in political instituions
strong representation of individuals/constituencies by MPs (dependent on rep style)
free political parties and pressure groups
govt has a clear mandate to govern
rule of law ensures equality
politically independet judisicary
decntralisation of powers
weakness of political instituions (democracy)
unelected monarchy and HoL
preogrative powers of PM are only conventional
rights are at the mercy of a majority sovereign government
ECHR anmd common law can be overturned by govt
strenght of democracy in the political process
elections are held free and regularly
PGs have access to govt
referendums are held and determine constituional changes nby the electorates decision
weakness of the political process (democracy)
fptp distorts representation
parliament can be weak to hold govt account
smaller parties are underrepresented
