Democracy And Participation Flashcards
What is an example of potential problems with referendums and mass consensus?
Brexit driven by propaganda like migration and the 350m Brexit bus
72% turnout; 52% leave
Functions of a democracy
Representation, accountability, participation, power dispersal, legitimacy, education
Arguments in favour of direct democracy
Pure democracy
Increased legitimacy for specific policy
Higher participation - Good Friday & brexit; AV
Public engagement, debate and education in politics; often open to misinformation and leads to hostility
Works in places like Switzerland
Argument against direct democracy
Impractical on mass scale
Tyranny of the majority
Undermining representative elected officials
Low turnout unless there is major contention
Emotional responses exploited over rational decisions, leads to populism which can be dangerous
Brief of the electoral commission (PPERA 2000)
Oversee & strengthen democracy without gov/party influence
- registe parties and oversee campaign spending
- setting criteria and enforcing legal requirements in election
- advise/report to parliament about reforms
- approve wording on the ballot
- educating public on registration
How long is the purdah?
4-6 weeks before
Cannot introduce new policy or campaign
Turnout trends general election
Lowest in 2001 - 59%
Went up 2005 - 62%
High in 2017 - 69%
Sustained high 2019 - 67%
Turnouts for referenda
64.2% EEC membership 1975
42.2% 2011 AV vote
34.6% G London Authority 1998
84.6% Scotland 2014
72% brexit
How many parties are in the House of Commons
8
What are the basic roles of pressure groups?
Investigate issues, raise awareness, develop policy
Especially for minority/fringe views
What are the unelected elements of UK democracy?
Monarchy
HoL;
House of Lords Reform Act 2014 means they can resign or be removed for not attending an entire session
What are the very low average turnouts in sub national elections?
34% local council - 2023 mansfield mayor 27%
45% Welsh/NI assembly
27% police commissioner
West Lothian Question
Unfairness of letting Scottish MPs vote on purely English matters
2003 labour passed policy on foundation hospitals and tuition fee increase using Scottish MPs
response: reduce Scottish MPs in Westminster from 72 -> 59 in 2005
but SNP majority since 2010 means they are a substantial opposition to the government
EVEL
2015 Manifesto promise from tories
English MPs can strike down laws which affect their people
Sunday trading bill 2016 shows Scottish MPs ability to strike down legislation
by convention, not mandatory
FPTP flaws
Wasted votes
Safe seats
Unrepresentative
Winnner’s bonus
Favours concentrated parties
Minority constituencies
Two party system
Evidence for FPTP flaws
Electoral reform society claims 45% wasted votes
UKIP won 13% of 2015 vote and gained 1 seat
Conservative safe seats in affluent London and Home Counties
Since 1922 it has been either labour or conservative executive; occasionally minority only one formal coalition
Factors determining elitist pressure group status
- insider
- size of membership
- wealth
- public profile
Examples of elitist pressure groups
Insider status: BMA(core insider),RCN
National trust membership 5.4 million
Wealth: NT budget of £177m 2021, UK Finance Ltd revenue of £51m
Evidence of infringement of rights
University safe spaces: started uptake in 2015
Protest curbed by PCSC Act 2022
Right to vote reduced by voter ID necessity
Right to due process reduced during post-Iraq era under Terrorism Act 2006
Progression of the franchise
1832 Great Reform Act middle classes
Representation of the People Act 1918 - enfranchise women over 30
1928 equal voting rights above 21
1969 above 18
2014 Scot referendum included 16 year olds
Which groups advocated for womens voting rights?
Suffragists - 1866 petition. Used peaceful means to advocate
Suffragettes - 1903 onwards using more disruptive protest
Disputed party meetings, attacked police, hunger strike, smashing windows
By 1914, public opinion turned against the direct tactics despite initial media attention
One example of an attempt to extend the franchise nowadays
Prisoners: reduces franchise by around 50k
Hirst v UK 2005 declared it a violation of human rights to blanket ban
Amnesty & Prison Reform Trust using insider status and media platforms to provide support.
Financial support in thousands of legal challenges
Extending franchise to 16 year olds argument
Making decisions for their future
Brazil, Austrian, German state elections etc allow 16 year olds
First attempt defeated in 1999 by 434 to 36
2017 Lib Dem manifesto promise to extend franchise
How do Votes at 16 use their website to influence policy?
Adopt a lord
Email MP
Suggesting awareness campaigning
Information and support for those holding debates etc
Engaging community & school.
Active Libyan model
Party membership 1950s vs now
1983 3.8% of total pop
1950: Labour 1 million, conservative 2.8 million
2023: Labour 400,000; Conservative 200,000; LibDem 73,544
Example of a vigil or protest campaign
Sarah everard
Occupy 2011 movement after Hillsborough disaster
Types of pressure groups
Sectional - focus on particular issue such as employment & limited membership demographic (Unite, BMA)
Causal groups - Have a specific cause (oxfam, RSPCA)
Insider/outsider status
Example of insider pressure groups success ?
Howard League for Penal Reform ended ban on receiving books in 2014
Examples of wealth leading to PG success
BBA in 2012 lobbied for corporation tax cut
Unite 2023 subsidising striking workers wages
Example of PG success in providing expertise and research
centre for policy research wrote after the pandemic
Allowed for legislation to pass which restricts trade union power
2016 AA raised penalty on using phone driving due to accident stats
Celebrity endorsement success
Joana lumley 2009 Gurkha justice campaign
Water aid using celebrities
Failed PG campaigns
Coalition for marriage failed against gay marriage
Methods to improve democracy
Compulsory voting - Australia’s fines for not voting
Electoral reform - into representation
Reform House of Lords
Recall of MPs -2015 reforms led to more accountability to constituents
Reform commons - reduce party control/make select committees fully elected
Reform devolution - EVEL, regional assembles
Monarchy removal; president
Codified constitution - entrench citizens rights
E democracy/referendum/public consultation
Example of using petitions in 2016
Backbench business committee established 100,000 signatures rule in 2011
Attempt to ban trump in 2016 heard by parliament after 570,000 signatures; not in their control
