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UK Government and Politics > Democracy and Participation > Flashcards

Democracy and Participation Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Democracy

A

A political system where the government serves the interests of the people.

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2
Q

Define Liberal Democracy

A

Citizens expect to influence or make political decisions themselves. Government will always be limited and accountable to the people. How we hold a government to account.

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3
Q

What is government of the people?

A

Based upon popular consent. They are there enacting power with consent.

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4
Q

What is government by the people?

A

Where people make political decisions themselves. (direct democracy). Oldest form of democracy.

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5
Q

What is government for the people?

A

Where people elect others to make political decisions on their behalf (representative democracy).

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6
Q

What is direct democracy?

A

Referendums: given a propositions, with a binary response. Consent or don’t consent. Plays a relatively small role in the UK.

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7
Q

What do referendums in the UK work on the basis of?

A

Simple plurality

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8
Q

What is a liberal democracy?

A

Exists in Europe and North America where there is an open and free society in which the right to vote is widespread and governments act in the interests of everyone in society.

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9
Q

What is a majoritarian democracy?

A

Where the will of the majority of the people is the prime consideration of government.

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10
Q

What is a parliamentary democracy?

A

Parliament is the highest legal authority and where the executive branch is drawn from the membership of the legislature and is accountable to members of parliament.

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11
Q

What is a presidential democracy?

A

Elect the executive and the legislative branch separately.

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12
Q

When did Labour get the most seats but not the popular vote?

A

February 1974

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13
Q

What does democracy do?

A

Protect freedom - helps guard against tyranny

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14
Q

What value is at the centre of democracy?

A

Tolerance

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15
Q

What do democratic institutions provide?

A

Protection to citizens against the over-powerful state.

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16
Q

What is pluralist democracy?

A

Power is widely distributed rather than concentrated in the hands of the elites.

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17
Q

What was Mill concerned about?

A

Ignorant people would use their vote foolishly

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18
Q

What is the representation function of democracy?

A

Ability of citizens to express their views and concerns to the government with the expectation they will be acknowledged.

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19
Q

How is representation achieved?

A

Voting, elections - choices between parties and policies.
Demonstrations
Pressure Groups

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20
Q

Example of representation?

A

2019 general election - get Brexit done

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21
Q

What is the accountability function of democracy?

A

The ability to hold the government to account for the actions it takes and the decisions it makes. People in charge should be held accountable for what they do.

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22
Q

Examples of methods of accountability

A

Political accountability = elections
Legal accountability = courts

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23
Q

What is the participation function of democracy?

A

The opportunity for citizens to take part in the political process. No groups should be discriminated against voting or contributing.

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24
Q

What is the power dispersal function of democracy?

A

The mechanism by which power is dispersed in the state to ensure no one institution becoming overly dominant

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25
Q

Example of power dispersal in UK?

A

Devolution of London, Manchester, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

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26
Q

What is the legitimacy function of democracy?

A

Ensures the state and its agencies have proper legal authority and that decisions and actions are not inly lawful but also represent the will of the people.

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27
Q

What is the education function of democracy?

A

An open and free society in which educated and informed citizens understand political issue and can make informed decision.

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28
Q

What is pluralism?

A

Pluralism is the idea that there is a competition between different groups

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29
Q

How is power distributed in a pluralist democracy?

A

Power is widely and evenly distributed across society instead of being concentrated in the hand of elites.

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30
Q

How should government make decisions?

A

Based on the merits of competing arguments.

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31
Q

What inhibits pluralism?

A

FPTP

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32
Q

What are elections free of?

A

Corruption

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33
Q

What makes elections fairer?

A

Spending limits on elections

34
Q

What allows a seamless transfer of power?

A

Result is accepted

35
Q

What is the average turnout?

A

70%

36
Q

What was the lowpoint of turnout?

A

59% in 2001

37
Q

What was turnout in 2017?

A

69%

38
Q

What was the turnout in the Scottish referendum?

A

84.6%

39
Q

What was the turnout for BREXIT?

A

72%

40
Q

What is universal suffrage?

A

All people 18 and over are able to vote.

41
Q

Who cannot vote?

A

Peers, prisoners and mentally incapable people

42
Q

What is a shortcoming of the UK democratic system?

A

LORDS AND THE MONARCHY

43
Q

What was the 2016 for local elections?

A

34%

44
Q

What was the 2016 turnout for Scottish Parliament?

A

56%

45
Q

What was the 2016 turnout for the Welsh Assembly?

A

45%

46
Q

What does simple plurality lead to?

A

Millions of wasted votes

47
Q

Where else uses FPTP?

A

Belarus

48
Q

What does FPTP do?

A

Exaggerates the popularity of the major parties

49
Q

What are some pressure groups?

A

Elitist

50
Q

What is a weakness to the UK system?

A

Weakness of the Electoral Commission - can’t do much - vote Leave

51
Q

What is another weakness?

A

Uncodified constitution = no entrenched rights

52
Q

When was the English Civil War?

A

1642-1649

53
Q

What did the Civil war establish?

A

Established the principle that the Crown could not govern without parliament - the execution of Charles I in effect brought an end to monarchical power in England.

54
Q

When was the Glorious Revolution?

A

1688

55
Q

What was the Glorious Revolution?

A

Established the primacy of parliament over the crown - since the Bill of Rights of 1689 every English monarch has reigned not ruled.

56
Q

When was the Reform Act?

A

1832

57
Q

What was the Reform Act?

A

Broke the monopoly of the aristocracy by moving the franchise from a land-based entitlement to a property based one- and additional 300000 voters from the middle class were now included.

58
Q

How many people were franchised in 1832?

A

5.6%

59
Q

When was the second Reform Act?

A

Extended the franchise to a wider electorate by lowering the property qualification- include the first affluent working class voters.

60
Q

What was the post war turnout average?

A

75%

61
Q

What issues does low turnout bring about?

A

Issues of legitimacy

62
Q

What is the trend in party membership?

A

Declined significantly

63
Q

How many members of the tory party are there?

A

200,000

64
Q

How many members of Labour are there?

A

500,000

65
Q

Why did Labour have a spike in membership?

A

Corbyn

66
Q

What club has more members than all UK parties?

A

Caravan club

67
Q

How many people identify with a political party?

A

37% - down from 46% in 1987

68
Q

What is this called?

A

Party Dealignment

69
Q

What proportion of tories are core vote?

A

30-35%

70
Q

What proportion of Labour are core vote?

A

25-30%

71
Q

What is the single biggest reason for change?

A

Class dealignment

72
Q

What lead to class dealignment?

A

Embourgeoisement

73
Q

Why are parties clearly indentifiable?

A

Drive by class - now class is diminished - parties have to change

74
Q

What is Apathy

A

Disengaged with politics, people feel as though politics doesn’t improve or change things, no matter who you vote for. Profound sense of frustration about how politics are conducted and how politicians conduct themselves

75
Q

Who does Apathy affect the most?

A

Young and marginalised individuals

76
Q

What is Hapathy?

A

Idea that things are fine and therefore things don’t need to change, so they don’t need to vote or get involved

77
Q

Who first coined the idea of Hapathy?

A

Jack Straw 2001

78
Q

What is abstention?

A

Disillusioned with the political system. Moral, ethical political decision. If they get involved, it only legitimises what is wrong with the system. Abstention is more engaged than apathy - political animals, understand and have reached a conscious decision.

79
Q

How many people trusted politicians in 1980?

A

40%

80
Q

How many people trust politicians?

A

20%

81
Q

What is a grievance with the political system?

A

Rule by an out of touch elite

82
Q

What is a sign of things improving for participation?

A

Every general election since 2001 has had an increase in turn out

UK Government and Politics (10 decks)

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