Democracy and Participation

Question 1

What are the two most common forms of Democracy?

Answer 1

Representative
Direct-Democracy

Question 2

What are two advantages of representative democracy?

Answer 2

Creates professional politicians
Minority views are upheld

Question 3

What are two disadvantages of representative democracy?

Answer 3

Citizens become disengaged with politics
Tightly controlled parties cause representatives to loose independence

Question 4

What are two advantages of direct-democracy?

Answer 4

Everyone in society participates
All votes are equal

Question 5

What are two disadvantages of direct-democracy?

Answer 5

Impractical as it requires 100% turnout
Tyranny of the majority

Question 6

How is the UK’s democracy healthy?

Answer 6

There are rights for citizens and frequent elections

Question 7

How is the UK’s democracy suffering?

Answer 7

through the Participation crisis

Question 8

What was the voter turnout in 1950 compared to 2001?

Answer 8

84% in 1950 - 59% in 2001

Question 9

What was the turn out in the more recent Scottish independence referendum?

Answer 9

85% in 2014

Question 10

What are two ways of improving voter turnout?

Answer 10

Compulsory voting
Lowering the voting age

Question 11

What is a benefit and a disadvantage of making voting compulsory?

Answer 11

Governments get greater legitimacy
Undermines freedom by forcing a vote

Question 12

What is a benefit and a disadvantage of lowering the voting age?

Answer 12

Young people get a greater say in politics
Could lower turnout due to youth not voting

Question 13

What are the four types of pressure groups?

Answer 13

Insider
Outsider
Promotional
Interest

Question 14

What other groups influence the government that aren’t pressure groups?

Answer 14

Corporations
Think Tanks
Lobbyists

Question 15

Give an example of an insider pressure group

Answer 15

Confederation of British industry worked closely with David Cameron in order to achieve economic growth

Question 16

Give an example of an outsider pressure group?

Answer 16

Greenpeace who promote environmental consideration

Question 17

Name a think tank

Answer 17

Adam Smith Institute which promotes free market ideas

Question 18

Give an example of Lobbying

Answer 18

Uber which spent £75 million a year between 2014 - 2016 in order to get their license in London back

Question 19

How can big businesses pressure the government?

Answer 19

They can use former ministers as advisors once they’re no longer in parliament

Question 20

Give an example of an ex-minister working with a business?

Answer 20

In 2017 George Osbourne had an advisory post for Blackrock and was paid £650,000 year

Question 21

Name two features that can increase a pressure groups success

Answer 21

Wealth
Celebrity endorsement

Question 22

Name a celebrity who has influenced the government

Answer 22

Marcus Rashford using his #MakeTheUturn campaign which saw the extension of free school meals for certain children in 2020

Question 23

Name two laws which protect UK citizens rights

Answer 23

Human Rights Act 1998
The Equality Act 2010

Question 24

Which case in 2012 saw the government violating human rights?

Answer 24

Abu Qatada who was an Islamic extremist who was deported to Jordan where he risked being tortured. The ECHR said the UK couldn’t do this but he was deported anyway

Question 25

How many estimated people support a pressure group in the UK as of 2023?

Answer 25

40% - 50% of the UK population

Question 26

What was the outcry following Johnson’s speech to the Confederation of British Industry?

Answer 26

Johnson deviated and spoke about Peppa Pig

Question 27

What does Johnson’s backlash following the CBI speech show?

Answer 27

How valued the pressure group is as people were upset that Johnson was not acting seriously during his speech