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Politics Component 1 > Democracy and Participation > Flashcards

Democracy and Participation Flashcards

1
Q

What does Democracy mean?

A

Political power resides with the people who live in an area (derived from the Greek demos - the people and kratos - rule)

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2
Q

What does Sovereign mean?

A

Possessing absolute and unlimited power wether it is legal authority or political power

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3
Q

What is direct democracy?

A

The people make fundamental decisions for themselves

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4
Q

What are the key features of direct democracy?

A
  • The public make the political decisions for themselves
  • Decisions made on a majoritarian basis
  • Continuous public participation
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5
Q

What are two examples of a society with direct democracy?

A
  • Ancient Athenian Democracy in 508 BC
  • Swiss cantons (regions) once a year meet to debate and vote on major local issues of the day
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6
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a direct democracy?

A

Advantage - Not one person making decisions, most will be satisfied, decision makers come from different backgrounds
Disadvantage - Not everyone is able to make an educated decision, time consuming

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7
Q

What is representative democracy?

A

A small group of people take political decisions on behalf of all the citizens in a country

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8
Q

What are key features of a representative democracy?

A

Citizen elect representatives to take decisions on their behalf, all adults have the right to vote, citizens delegate their authority to representatives, elections are free and fair

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9
Q

Advantages and disadvantages of a representative democracy?

A

Advantages - educated group of politicians make decisions, control of major decisions, less time consuming

Disadvantages- views of people may be overlooked, politicians have a narrower view of the world, power can corrupt politicians

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10
Q

Does the UK fit the criteria for a representative democracy?

A
  • There is a general election every 5 years to elect a party and other local election for local representatives ✅
  • Prisoners cannot vote ❌
  • UK citizens allow the elected candidate to make political decisions ✅
  • In theory elections are free and fair but there are often practical barriers
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11
Q

Arguments for a direct democracy in the UK

A
  • The voice of the people is heard in it’s pure form e.g 2016 EU referendum
  • More regular and meaningful opportunities to take part in the political system
  • Citizens can pick and choose the individual policies they like instead one parties complete policies
  • Public are more motivated to learn about the political process
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12
Q

Arguments for a representative democracy in the UK

A
  • There is no venue big enough to have a single meeting of all UK citizens
  • Turnout is already low in the Uk and there is no evidence they would participate more in voting
  • Government put a coherent set of policies which the public might not do
  • Governed by full time professionals, the public is simply to busy
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13
Q

What is a referendum?

A

The electorate vote on a specific question(s) - incorporates a direct democracy in a representative democracy

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14
Q

What is the 2015 Recall of MPs Act?

A

If an MP is sentenced to imprisonment or suspended from the House of Commons for more than 14 days a petition for a by-election can be triggered. If 10% sign a by-election is called

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15
Q

When has the recall petition mechanism been used?

A

2018, North Antrim - Ian Paisley with 9.4% so not removed
2019, Peterborough - Fiona Onasanya with 27.4% so removed and replaced by Lisa Forbes
2019, Brecon - Christopher Davis with 18.9% so removed and replaced by Jane Dodds (Lib Dem)
2019-present, Rutheglen - Margaret Ferries with 14.7% so will be replaced soon

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16
Q

What does legitimacy mean?

A

The right and acceptance of an authority

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17
Q

Where does legitimacy come from in the UK?

A

The consent of the people via elections, consent via referendums, the rules of constitution like ‘being able to command the confidence’, by law allowing power

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18
Q

Evidence for a free and fair elections

A

For - every eligible adult (except prisoners) can vote, very little evidence of identity fraud in voting
Against - 2015 UKIP had 4 million votes with turned into 1 seat (0.2%) in Commons

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19
Q

Evidence for popular participation in the UK

A

For - joining and funding political parties and pressure groups (no age limit)
Against - people don’t really bother to joking groups and some require you to pay, some people don’t vote as they don’t like voting system

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20
Q

Evidence for devolved governments in the UK

A

For - Scotland, Wales and London all have their own parliament
Against - England does not have its own parliaments unlike the other countries of the UK, NI assembly suspended

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21
Q

Evidence for free media in the UK

A

For - newspapers often have a bias so can challenge their oppositions publicly, social media can legally voice different views
Against - a lot of media is owned by a small group of rich businessmen

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22
Q

Evidence for independent judiciary

A

For - 2017 Theresa May lost a case to trigger the start of Brexit, 2019 Boris Johnson suspended parliament illegally which was taken to court
Against - government plays a small role in picking and approving judges

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23
Q

What does democratic deficit mean?

A

A situation in which political structures or decision making processes are perceived to lack legitimacy

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24
Q

What are so undemocratic elements in the UK?

A

Poor representation of voters due to voting system - FPTP and UKIP 2015, Labour 2005 got 35% of votes but 55.2% of seats
House of Lords lack democratic legitimacy- 100% not elected, life peers chosen by PMs, hereditary peers passed on by family and lord’s spiritual (CofE)
Lack of citizens right protection - Humans right act gives some basic protection but parliament are sovereign so can pass any act they want
Control of media by wealthy interests - 3 companies, News Uk, Daily Mail Group and Reach own big parts of UK media and we do not elect these people

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25
Q

What is a participation crisis?

A

A large proportion of the population do not engage with the political process

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26
Q

What ways can people participate in politics?

A

Contact a local MP or media, take part in a campaign, create or sign a paper or e- petition, attends political meeting or take part in a protest, vote in an election and donate money to a political party

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27
Q

Evidence of participation in a general elections

A

For - 2001 59.4% participated and in 2019 67% participated meaning and increase
Against - There’s been little increase and numbers have not been this low since the early 1900s

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28
Q

Evidence of participation in second order elections

A

For - 2021 Scottish Parliament had 64% turnout as well as the 2022 NI assembly election having the same
Against - 2022 Senedd election has a turnout of 47% and local elections tend to be in the low 30%

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29
Q

Evidence of participation in referendums

A

For - 1998 Good Friday referendum in NI had a 81% turnout, 2014 Scottish independence referendum had 85% of voters, 2016 Brexit referendum 72% voted in it
Against - 2011 alternative vote referendum had 42% turnout

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30
Q

Evidence of participation in political parties

A

For - SNP has 2.5% of Scotland as members, in 1950s the conservatives had 3 mil and Labour had 1 mil
Against - 432,000 members are in Labour and 172,000 people are in conservatives which is a significant decrease to what it was in the 1950s

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31
Q

What’s the difference between first order elections and second order elections?

A

First order determines the government and executive power and the second order elections are often smaller and do not determine the above.

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32
Q

What is political apathy and how is it linked to the participation crisis?

A

Some people don’t care about voting or some really do but are out of by the voting system. The credit referendum had a good tuner out but the people who didn’t vote in probably one of the biggest referendums in the UK will probably never vote as they don’t care

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33
Q

What factors might explain why participation levels fluctuate?

A

Competition being close means turnout will be higher while if there is a landslide turnout goes down, world issues also spikes turnout also the severity of vote

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34
Q

Evidence of participation in pressure groups

A

For - RSPB has over 1 mil members, trade unions have 7 million members in total
Against - 1979 there were 12 million people in trade unions so membership has declined

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35
Q

Evidence of participation in protests

A

For - 2003 the biggest UK protest was to stop the Iraq war with 1 million participants, the 2nd biggest was to stop Brexit in 2018 with just under a million
Against - massive protests are fairly rare in the UK

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36
Q

Evidence of participation of signing a petition

A

For - the most popular was to revoke article 50 in the EU with 6 million signers while the 2nd was another EU vote with just under a million marchers
Against - this isn’t proper activism it is more clicktivism

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37
Q

What are the four ways of voting in the UK at the moment?

A
  • In person voting
  • Postal vote
  • By proxy (friend)
  • By proxy by post
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38
Q

What was the UK turnout for the European Parliament elections in 1999?

A

24% - lowest in Europe

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39
Q

How did Labour try and combat low voting participation?

A

In 2004 they introduced all-postal ballots in four of Britains 12 European constituencies- turnout doubled in the regions and nearly 3 mil more people voted than in 1999

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40
Q

Where else has postal ballots been trialed?

A

In local elections where turnout was again higher with cities like Sheffield, Liverpool and Leeds up by about half

41
Q

What are the strengths and weaknesses of postal voting?

A

Strengths: turnout increases in regions using postal votes
Weaknesses: concerns about electoral fraud including multiple voting and intimidation, some voters objected to the lack of choice in voting methods

42
Q

What do supporters of digital democracy say about e-voting?

A
  • makes it more convenient to vote in elections and referendums
  • boosts participation
43
Q

What are the for and against for e-voting?

A

For: easier participation so boosts political awareness, much lower costs and results can be automatically counted

Against: greater opportunity for electoral fraud and could compromise the secrecy of the ballot, some have more access to ICT so could lead to new political inequities

44
Q

What are some of the parties that support voting at 16?

A

Labour, Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party

45
Q

Where have 16 year olds been allowed to vote already in the UK

A
  • 2014 Scottish Independence referendum
  • Scottish Parliament elections
  • Welsh Parliament elections
  • Local elections in both Scotland and Wales
46
Q

What are the pros of voting at 16?

A
  • make decisions that directly affect us for example some 16 year olds pay taxes but don’t have a say on what they are spent on
  • could cause and increased interest in politics so increases turnout
  • some 16 year olds already know a lot about poltics
47
Q

What are the cons of voting at 16?

A
  • The majority of 16 year olds do not pay tax and are on the whole less likely to vote if they don’t vote the first time
  • 16 year old brains aren’t fully decoupled until 25 so there is a risk of judgement
  • The majority of 16 year olds do not take A-level politics so cannot make informed decisions
48
Q

Where is compulsory voting already a thing?

A

Australia, Brazil, France and India. Also in Greece but they do not punish not voters whereas the other countries pumped a penalty

49
Q

What are the penalties for not voting the compulsory voting countries?

A

Australia - £15
Belgium - up to €50 for first offence
Bolivia - non voters can be prevented from drawing their salary for three months
Brazil - fine, passport application refusal and lose the right to vote
Peru - fine and restricted from making bak transactions
(allowances for those unwell in election day)

50
Q

What is the evidence the compulsory voting boosts turnout?

A

The 2022 Australian federal election was 90% voter turnout

51
Q

What are the pros of compulsory voting?

A
  • higher turnout so a wider representation of the populations political views making a fairer outcome
  • more centrist contest and little extreme parties as their main tactic of getting people riled up so they vote loses effect
  • marginalised people are better represented
52
Q

What are the cons of compulsory voting?

A
  • if people are forced to vote they may just vote randomly
  • many radical parties hardly ever come into power and sometimes we need radical policies
  • Optional voting makes parties work harder
  • Jehovahs witnesses do not believe in voting
53
Q

What did the Elections Act 2022 mean for voting?

A

In England voters need to show photo I.D to permit them to vote at polling stations

54
Q

What are overall criticisms of voter I.D?

A

Could lower political participation and leads to ‘voter supression’

55
Q

What are the arguments for voter I.D ?

A
  • 0.7% of people who turned up in the May 2023 local elections were initially turned away
  • 91% of Britons own approved photo ID
  • Younger people are more likely to hold a fork of photo ID (99% of 18-21)
56
Q

What are the arguments against voter I.D?

A
  • ID student cards do not count as valid ID while several 60+ travel passes do
  • In 2019 there was one conviction and one caution for impersonation nationally
  • Those with limiting disabilities, the unemployed and those who never vote are less likely to own photo ID
  • More than a quarter of the people without ID said the change would make them less likely to vote
57
Q

What is the suffrage?

A

The ability or right to vote in public elections

58
Q

Who are the key groups excluded coke voting in UKparliamentary elections?

A
  • Under 18s
  • convinced prisoners detained in prison
  • citizens of other countries
59
Q

What was the voting system like pre 1832?

A
  • 400,000 could vote (small minority)
  • The right to vote depended on property ownership
  • The plural voting system allowed some people to get more votes if they owned lots of land
  • Women couldn’t vote
60
Q

What was a rotten borough?

A

Tiny constituencies where a few rich people lived and so were allowed to choose and MP for themselves

61
Q

What happened to the right to vote in 1832?

A
  • 650,000 now allowed to vote (5% of population)
  • The Great Reform act was passed with abolished rotten boroughs and gave the right to vote to tenant farmers, small property owners and middle class male householders
62
Q

Who was given the right to vote in 1867?

A

Tradesmen and Shopkeepers - now 1-2 million people (13% of the population)

63
Q

Who was given the right to vote in 1884?

A

Farm workers and miners - 5 mil (25% of adult population)

64
Q

What happened to voting age in 1918?

A

All men over 21 allowed to vote, all women over 30 given the vote - 75% of the population

65
Q

What happened to voting age in 1928?

A

Equalises the right to vote at 21 - ‘Full’ adult suffrage

66
Q

What happened to the voting system in 1948?

A

End of plural voting by Labour olivia and one person one vote (OPOV) introduced

67
Q

When was star voting age changed to 18 in the UK?

A

1969

68
Q

Who were the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and

A

A women’s suffrage group run by Millicent Fawcett that aimed to achieve the vote for women through peaceful and legal means - suffragists

69
Q

What were some of the methods used by the NUWSS?

A

Open air procession - Feb 1907
Met MPs to explain their aims and gave ideas to introduced parliamentary bills

70
Q

Who were the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU)?

A

A women’s suffrage group often called the suffragettes run by Emmeline Pankhurst and her two daughters

71
Q

What were some of the methods used by the WSPU?

A

Heckled politicians, held demonstrations and marches, broke the law to force arrests, committed arson, vandalised government buildings, held a hunger strike

72
Q

What is a pressure group?

A

Any organisation which, normally through lobbying rather than standing for office, seeks to influence public policy and decisions at local, national or international levels

73
Q

What does it mean to lobby?

A

To make representations to policy makers - engage in activities by which policy makers can be influenced in their decision making

74
Q

What are the important functions pressure groups serve?

A

Offer participation opportunities
Can help government to carry out policies
Represent a group of people often from a range of different background
View of the people being heard through and educated understanding of their wants
Not just politicians making decisions

75
Q

What are the three main types of pressure groups and what do they mean?

A

Sectional - performance of an economic function, joined by people engaged in certain professions or trades and exists for their intrest
Promotional - campaigns on behalf of a cause or single issue and is open to anyone that is sympathetic to the particular issue
Social - similar to promotional but less structured but often more radical and included those who want to get involved into protest for a particular issue

76
Q

What is the difference between insider and outsider groups?

A

Insider have direct access to minister and seniors civil servants and can build close relationships with them to influence policy. Meanwhile outsiders are not usually consulted by the government

77
Q

What are the methods used by insider groups?

A

Talk to ministers about issues the minister has maybe not thought about
Suggest new policies and it’s benefits
Promise to support the ministers

78
Q

What are the two type of outsider groups?

A

Aspiring insider groups - aim to become insider but have not reached this status
Ideological outsider groups - prefer to remain at an arms length from government (members feel better represented as they don’t have to compromise with government, don’t have to stay within legal boundaries)

79
Q

How is direct action used by pressure groups?

A

Just Stop Oil threw soup over a Van Gogh painting, blocked roads, glued themselves to surfaces and compromised sports games
Extinction rebellion do demonstrations and marches
October 2023 Energy Intelligence protested in London against by fossil free

Why - get their cause seen and acknowledged on a national stage by the media

80
Q

How do pressure groups use donation to political parties to get influence?

A

Unite and Unison donated large amounts of money to the Labour Party
Large businesses like JCB fund the conservative party

Why - want parties to get elected into parliament so they have the groups interests which could influence policy

81
Q

How do pressure groups use lobbying MPs to get influence?

A

2021 Nowzad asked supporters to lobby MPs to ask questions about rescuing Pen Farthing
2014 Unlock Democracy asked the public to write to MPs asking them to vote for an elected house of lords
2010 Cancer Research Uk worked with Julie Morgan to introduce a Sunbed Act

Why - raises the profile of issues, leads to changes in law and private members bill sometimes become acts

82
Q

How do pressure groups establish pressure parties to get influence?

A

2019 People before Profit stood for office in 2 constituencies in the general elections and animal welfare stood in 6 constituencies
Legalised Cannabis Alliance stood in previous elections

Why - raise awareness for the purpose of the pressure group

83
Q

How do pressure groups use media campaigns to get influence?

A

Greenpeace launched advertisements that were anti-VW complaining they were opposing cuts to CO2 emission
Led by Donkeys made videos to oppose brexit policies

Why - influence parties to choose better leaders and highlight problems with big companies and parties

84
Q

How do pressure groups use meetings with ministers and senior civil servants to get influence?

A

2016 Nissan met Theresa May to see assurance to keep factories in business he UK post Brexit and were promised up to £80m
CBI and TUC met chancellor Sunak in 2020 regarding his Covid winter job support plan

85
Q

What is a judicial review?

A

the process by which judges can declare the actions of public officials to be beyond the officials legal powers (ultra views - beyond their legal powers)

86
Q

What examples are there of pressure groups using judicial review?

A

2016 Supreme Court ruled that Theresa May could only trigger Article 50 after gaining permission from Parliament
2019 Supreme Court ruled that Boris Johnson had suspended Parliament unlawfully

87
Q

What is a think tank?

A

A body of experts brought together to investigate and offer solutions to economic, social and political issues however taking up policies and them actually being implemented are different things

88
Q

What is a lobbyist?

A

a member of a professional organisation who is paid by a client to seek to influence government - parliamentary code bars MPs from accepting bribes yet it is difficult to prove the MPs motivation so lobbyist impact is unclear

89
Q

What methods do lobbyists use and what are the concerns with them?

A

Pass on message directly to politician and arrange meetings

Unethical and furthers capitalism

90
Q

What are some concerns about corporations role in UK politics?

A

Google was accused of negotiating a deal with HMRC in 2016 to handle over a fraction of the taxes it ought to be paid over the previous decade
David Cameron joined Greensill capital and wrote fifty six WhatsApp messages to ministers

91
Q

What is pluralist democracy?

A

A type of democracy in which a government makes decisions as a result of the various ideas and contrasting arguments from competing groups and organisations

92
Q

What are the features of a pluralist democracy?

A

Political participation is organised in large part via groups speaking up for collective unrest
Wife range of pressure groups
Pressure groups are internally democratic
No pressure group can permanently dominate
PGs express the views of their members to the government on particular issues
Government is neutral and will listen to any group

93
Q

What are civil liberties?

A

Specific freedoms and rights which we enjoy because we are citizens in a particular state

94
Q

What was the significances of the Magna Carta

A

1215 - first formal statement of rights in the UK
right to freedom of movement, property and a fair trail
Establishes the right to trial by jury and the principle of habeas corpus

95
Q

Why was the European Convention of Human Rights significant?

A

1950 - aftermath of WW2
UK operated under this from 1953 and gives right to life, a fair trial, privacy, free expression and rights not to be tortured

96
Q

Why was the Human Rights Act significant?

A

1988 - Labour government passed it
Gave UK citizens the right to UK courts as previously had to go to Strasbourg
UK courts must enforce other laws in ways which are compatible to HRA
Can rule law incompatible and pressure to change it but government are sovereign

97
Q

Why was the Equality Act significant?

A

2010 - Labour government sought to bring together earlier pieces of legislation that outlawed discrimination
Nine protected characteristics
Illegal to discriminate against people of any backgrounds

98
Q

What are the two types of criticism of the Equality Act?

A

Not far enough: treats characteristics in isolation not together, class is not a protected characteristics
Too far: places burden on businesses as they don’t want to get it wrong

99
Q

Freedom of expression strengthened or weakened?

A

strengthened - Police Reform Act 2011 loosened restriction of protest rights

weakened - Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 required protest permit
Trade Union Act 2016 banned unions going on strike with less than 50%
Braverman 2023 tried to get police to stop ceasefire march on Armistice day

Politics Component 1 (7 decks)

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