Democracy and Participation Flashcards
Direct Democracy
Where the people themselves make their own decisions. In modern society this is often done through referendums.
Representative Democracy
A form of Government where people elect or choose a representative to make decisions on their behalf. It also implies that representatives are accountable.
Advantages of Direct Democracy
- purest form, everyone is heard
-avoid delay and deadlock - gives greater legitamacy
Disadvantages of Direct democracy
- tyranny of the majority
- people may be too easily appealed by short term emotional values
- some issues may be too complex for the ordinary voter to understand
Advantages of Representative Democracy
- required to be well informed about issues
- general public may be swayed by emotions and not be informed enough to make decisions
- elected politicians balance conflicting interests
- public vote in line with self interest rather than the effects on others
Disadvantages of Representative Democracy
- MPs may be disengaged from the public interest
- MPs may have a second job
- Westminster Parliament is unrepresentative as it is elected FPTP
- Social make up of parliament is primarily white male
Social Representation
the characteristics of elected representatives should be broadly in line with the characteristics of the population
Functional Representation
This refers to the fact that some elected representatives will represent not only their constituency or region but also a particular occupational or social group.
Casual Representation
Representative bodies are not representing people so much as ideas, principles and causes.
Decentralisation
The process of spreading power away from the centre both towards devolved governments and regional governments.
Electoral Mandate
The principle whereby the party that has been elected to govern has the authority of the electorate to carry out its manifesto arrangements.
Strengths of the mandate
-grants clear authority to government
-allows parliament to judge performance
-shows clearly when government may be overstepping its authority
Weaknesses of the mandate
-parties in the UK are always elected with less than 50% of the popular vote
-those who voted for the party may not agree with all manifesto pledges
-it is not clear if government can carry out anything not in its manifesto
3 pressure groups that have a formal membership
-British Medical Association (BMA)
-National Farmer’s Union (NFA)
-Automobile Association (AA)
3 pressure groups without a formal membership
-Age UK
-Stonewall
-British Driver’s Association
Limited Government
The power of government should have strict limits and these limits will be enforced by the judicial system.
How does the UK suffer from a democratic deficit?
-FPTP produces disproportional outcomes, renders many votes wasted and elects governments with a small popular vote.
-HoL is unelected
-Sovereignty of parliament implies unlimited powers
-European convention of human rights is not binding
Pluralism/Pluralist Democracy
The idea that a wide variety of beliefs can flourish in a society and be tolerated
Forms of political participation
- Standing for public office
- Active party membership
- Active pressure group membership
- Passive party membership
- Digital activism
- Voting
Examples of changing political participation
-SNP had over 100,000 members in a population of 5 million
-run up to 2015 election UKIP gained over 50,000 members
Referendum turnouts for: 2011 AV ref, 2014 scottish independence ref and 2016 BREXIT ref
2011: 42.2%
2014: 84.6%
2016: 72.2%
3 E-petitions and No. of signatures recieved
2007: against a plan to introduce charges for using the roads, 1.8m
2011: to release documents relating to Hillsborough, 139,000
2016: second EU referendum, 3.8m
Participation crisis
A point where the public has become disengaged from politics and voting levels have fallen
Franchise
The right to vote in free elections
Reasons for votes at 16:
-can generate mass enthusiasm and positive publicity
-encourages school and college debates
-could create cross party support
-Scotland implemented this in its 2014 referendum
How did John Hirst influence prisoner voting?
Hirst raised significant influence in the government defying the European Court of Human Rights claiming it violated Article 3 of the first protocol.
However, it gained cross-party condemnation with 234 MPs voting against and 22 voting for.
Reasons for compulsory voting:
-22 nation states have implemented this
-e.g Australia gained a 91% turnout and Belgium a 89% turnout
-enhances legitimacy and ensures that the majority of the population engages with the democratic process
Reasons against compulsory voting:
-gives the state too much power to coerce citizens
-Russel Brand argues that choosing not engage with the voting process can be a powerful act of disproval
-would encourage younger voters to engage as in the 2010 election there was a turnout of 44% of 18-25 year old’s
Pressure Group
Aim to influence policy making at a local, regional or national level without seeking to gain power
Functions of pressure groups
-represent and promote the interest and sections of society who feel that they are not fully represented.
-promote causes that are not adequately taken up by parliament
-to call government to account over certain policy areas
-to give citizens opportunity to participate in politics
Promotional/cause group
To promote a particular cause and convert the ideas into government policy or action. Examples include, Greenpeace, Friends of the earth, Liberty
Sectional Group
These groups constitute a section of society and so constitute as part of the functional representation community in the UK. They are self interested in hopes that they pursue interests specifically in their own membership. Examples such as Age UK, BMA
Success factors of pressure groups
-size, more supporters more influence it has
-finance, wealthy groups can afford expensive campaigns, employ lobbyists and sponsor political parties
-strategic position of sectional groups, they could be vital to the economy so could threaten to move overseas
-public mood, strong public sentiment can aid greatly
-attitude of the government itself
Insider Groups
Seek to be involved in the early stages of policy or lawmaking. Some groups employ professional lobbyists that gain access from decision makers.
Outsider Groups
Groups who do not entertain a special position in government circles. This may be because decision makers do not wish to be seen to be too close to them. Usually promotional groups.
Methods used by pressure groups
-campaigning
-mobilising public opinion to promote themselves
-organising mass demonstrations, creating e-petitions
Examples of pressure group campaigning methods:
-Plane Stupid: to prevent an airport expansions they invaded airports, blocked flights, organised e-petitions, delayed using judicial review
-Greenpeace: concerning environmental issues, destroyed generically modified crops, disrupting whaling and oil exploration
Failure factors of pressure groups
-too small and limited funding can’t gain enough publicity e.g. rare medical condition representatives
-unsympathetic government
-powerful countervailing groups
-groups that are conservative in nature
How do pressure groups enhance democracy
-disperse power and influence more widely
-educate public
give more opportunity to participate in politics
-promote interests of minorities
call government to account
How do pressure groups threaten democracy
-elitist and concentrate power in few hands
-may distort information
-may not accurately represent the views of their supporters
-wealthy groups may wield a disproportionate amount of influence
Civil Liberties
The rights and freedoms of citizens that protect them from unfair treatment by the state or government
Common Law rights
-Every citizen is assumed to have rights unless prohibited by law
-Rights were sometimes specifically stated by a judge within a court case. E.g. married couples who split may dispute over possessions or what rights they have against each other
Human Rights Act
-Establishes a wide range of rights to replace the patchwork of statute and common law rights in the UK
-Enforced in all courts in the UK and so any laws passed should conform to that level
