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)
2
Q
What does Sovereign mean?
A
Possessing absolute and unlimited power wether it is legal authority or political power
3
Q
What is direct democracy?
A
The people make fundamental decisions for themselves
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
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
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
encourages participation
limits corruption
Disadvantage - Not everyone is able to make an educated decision, time consuming
fear of the majority
minority view points are disregarded
7
Q
What is representative democracy?
A
A small group of people take political decisions on behalf of all the citizens in a country
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
9
Q
Advantages and disadvantages of a representative democracy?
A
Advantages - educated group of politicians make decisions, control of major decisions, less time consuming, practical in large areas, elections allow gov to be held accountable, reduction of the tyranny of the majority
Disadvantages- views of people may be overlooked, politicians have a narrower view of the world, power can corrupt politicians, politicans often shift blame, FPTP is majoritarain and unbenefical for minor parties
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
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
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
13
Q
What is a referendum?
A
The electorate vote on a specific question(s) - incorporates a direct democracy in a representative democracy
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
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
16
Q
What does legitimacy mean?
A
The right and acceptance of an authority
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
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
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
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
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
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
23
Q
What does democratic deficit mean?
A
A situation in which political structures or decision making processes are perceived to lack legitimacy
24
Q
Arguments for a democratic deficit in the UK
A
For - elective dictatorship and referednums are in frequent (FPTP is a plurality system)
control of media by wealthy interests e.g Murdoch and The Sun
Lack of protection of citizens rights - HRA unentrenched
HoL lack democratic legitmacy
25
Arguments against a democratic deficit in the UK
Pressre group engagmanet is high - 1m members in RSPB
Devolved gov and mayors closer to communities - SNP has control over healthcare and education
Independent judicary - CRA
26
What are so undemocratic elements in the UK?
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
27
What is a participation crisis?
A large proportion of the population do not engage with the political process
28
What ways can people participate in politics?
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
29
Evidence of participation in a general elections
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
30
Evidence of participation in second order elections
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%
31
Evidence of participation in referendums
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
32
Evidence of participation in political parties
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
33
What’s the difference between first order elections and second order elections?
First order determines the government and executive power and the second order elections are often smaller and do not determine the above.
34
What is political apathy and how is it linked to the participation crisis?
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
35
What factors might explain why participation levels fluctuate?
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
36
Evidence of participation in pressure groups
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
37
Evidence of participation in protests
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
38
Evidence of participation of signing a petition
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
39
What are the four ways of voting in the UK at the moment?
- In person voting
- Postal vote
- By proxy (friend)
- By proxy by post
40
What was the UK turnout for the European Parliament elections in 1999?
24% - lowest in Europe
41
How did Labour try and combat low voting participation?
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
42
Where else has postal ballots been trialed?
In local elections where turnout was again higher with cities like Sheffield, Liverpool and Leeds up by about half
43
What are the strengths and weaknesses of postal voting?
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
44
What do supporters of digital democracy say about e-voting?
- makes it more convenient to vote in elections and referendums
- boosts participation
45
What are the for and against for e-voting?
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
46
What are some of the parties that support voting at 16?
Labour, Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party
47
Where have 16 year olds been allowed to vote already in the UK
- 2014 Scottish Independence referendum
- Scottish Parliament elections
- Welsh Parliament elections
- Local elections in both Scotland and Wales
48
What are the pros of voting at 16?
- 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
49
What are the cons of voting at 16?
- 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
50
Where is compulsory voting already a thing?
Australia, Brazil, France and India. Also in Greece but they do not punish not voters whereas the other countries pumped a penalty
51
What is the evidence the compulsory voting boosts turnout?
The 2022 Australian federal election was 90% voter turnout
52
What are the pros of compulsory voting?
- 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
53
What are the cons of compulsory voting?
- 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
54
What did the Elections Act 2022 mean for voting?
In England voters need to show photo I.D to permit them to vote at polling stations
55
What are overall criticisms of voter I.D?
Could lower political participation and leads to ‘voter supression’
56
What are the arguments for voter I.D ?
- 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)
57
What are the arguments against voter I.D?
- 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
58
What is the suffrage?
The ability or right to vote in public elections
59
Who are the key groups excluded coke voting in UKparliamentary elections?
- Under 18s
- convinced prisoners detained in prison
- citizens of other countries
60
What was the voting system like pre 1832?
- 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
61
What happened to the right to vote in 1832?
- 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
What happened to voting age in 1918?
All men over 21 allowed to vote, all women over 30 given the vote - 75% of the population
63
What happened to voting age in 1928?
Equalises the right to vote at 21 - ‘Full’ adult suffrage
64
What happened to the voting system in 1948?
End of plural voting by Labour olivia and one person one vote (OPOV) introduced
65
When was star voting age changed to 18 in the UK?
1969
66
Who were the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and
A women’s suffrage group run by Millicent Fawcett that aimed to achieve the vote for women through peaceful and legal means - suffragists
67
What were some of the methods used by the NUWSS?
Open air procession - Feb 1907
Met MPs to explain their aims and gave ideas to introduced parliamentary bills
68
Who were the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU)?
A women’s suffrage group often called the suffragettes run by Emmeline Pankhurst and her two daughters
69
What were some of the methods used by the WSPU?
Heckled politicians, held demonstrations and marches, broke the law to force arrests, committed arson, vandalised government buildings, held a hunger strike
70
What is a pressure group?
Any organisation which, normally through lobbying rather than standing for office, seeks to influence public policy and decisions at local, national or international levels
71
What does it mean to lobby?
To make representations to policy makers - engage in activities by which policy makers can be influenced in their decision making
72
What are the important functions pressure groups serve?
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
73
What are the three main types of pressure groups and what do they mean?
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
74
What is the difference between insider and outsider groups?
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
75
What are the methods used by insider groups?
Talk to ministers about issues the minister has maybe not thought about
Suggest new policies and it’s benefits
Promise to support the ministers
76
What are the two type of outsider groups?
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)
77
How is direct action used by pressure groups?
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
78
How do pressure groups use donation to political parties to get influence?
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
79
How do pressure groups use lobbying MPs to get influence?
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
80
How do pressure groups establish pressure parties to get influence?
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
81
How do pressure groups use media campaigns to get influence?
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
82
How do pressure groups use meetings with ministers and senior civil servants to get influence?
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
83
What is a judicial review?
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)
84
What examples are there of pressure groups using judicial review?
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
85
Examples of pressure groups succeceding
Liberty - Ed Bridges won case against facial recognition in Wales
HLoPR - overturned blanket ban on books from failies
Cancer Research UK - Sunbeds Act 2011
NEU - 2023 recived 6.5% pay rise for striking teachers
86
Examples of pressure groups struggling
HLoPR - prisoners still can't vote
Votes for 16 - voting age has not been lowered
87
Factors enabling pressure group success
Membership = Howard League only have 13000 members
Finance - Greensill capital paid Cameron £7 to lobby
Insider statys - cancer reasearch working for Sunbeds Act
Celebrity endrosement - Gurkkha justice and Marcus rashford with free shcool meals
Stayegic position - BMI encouraged to strike for higher pay
media coverage - Gurkkha justice
Public support - extinction rebellion does not have thus
88
What is a think tank?
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
89
What is a lobbyist?
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
90
What methods do lobbyists use and what are the concerns with them?
Pass on message directly to politician and arrange meetings
Unethical and furthers capitalism
91
What are some concerns about corporations role in UK politics?
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
92
What is pluralist democracy?
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
93
What are the features of a pluralist democracy?
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
94
What are civil liberties?
Specific freedoms and rights which we enjoy because we are citizens in a particular state
95
What was the significances of the Magna Carta
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
96
Why was the European Convention of Human Rights significant?
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
97
Why was the Human Rights Act significant?
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
98
Why was the Equality Act significant?
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
99
What are the two types of criticism of the Equality Act?
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
100
Freedom of expression strengthened or weakened?
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
101
No detention without charge strengthen or weakend
strengthened - Anti Terror Act 2001 ruled incompatible and 2011 coalition replaced control order
Weakedn - after 9/11 more terror legislation
102
Right to privacy strengthened or weakend?
Terrosim Act 2000 ruled incompatible
Investigatory Power Act 2016 required internet providers to allow police access to searches, Indenityt cards act 2006 (this never happened)
103
Freedom of movement strengthened or weakned
Lost during covid but restrictions have now been lifted
