Democracy And Participation Flashcards
Functions of elections
Choosing a government
Accountability
Representation
Policy choice
Models of representation
Delegates - represent constituents’ views
Trustees - giving something the authority to use their own judgment to act on their constituents’ interests (MPs)
Definitions of representation
Constituency representation - an MP representing the interests of their constituency
Party representation - an MP acting in the interests of their party
Social representation - an MP acting to further the interests of a particular social group
How many female MPs are there?
34% of HoC at 2019 GE (224) - up from 142 in 2010
How many LGBT MPs are there?
8% (‘gayest Parliament in the world’)
However, NO trans representation
How many BAME MPs are there?
10% of HoC in 2019 (15.2% of people BAME as of 2019)
What is liberal democracy?
A form of representative democracy in which the power of the government to dictate to individuals is limited by constitutional rights.
Features of liberal democracy
Rule of law
Non-partisan civil service
Pluralist democracy
Free and fair elections
What is an illiberal/authoritarian democracy?
A system where democracy exists but protection of individual rights is only partial. For example, Russia, Belarus
What is direct democracy?
A democracy in which citizens directly and continuously participate in making and implementing policy.
Weakness of direct democracy
Not possible in any sizeable state today (only existed in city states in Ancient Greece)
Impossible to please everybody - e.g. in the last few weeks, two petitions have been debated in parliament, with one calling for LGBT content to be removed from the curriculum, and the other calling for it to be maintained
Manifestations of direct democracy
Petitions (any petition with over 100,000 votes considered for debate in Parliament) - e.g. recent debate to hold a parliamentary vote on assisted dying on 29th of April 2024
Referendums
Recall votes (2015 Recall of MPs Act) 3 held in past 3 years - e.g. Labour MP Fiona Onasanya in 2019 after being charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to 2 speeding offences
Issues regarding extension of franchise
Votes at 16
Voter ID
Prisoners’ votes
Arguments for prisoner’s votes
Not allowing them votes is actually a violation of the ECHR. In 2005, a prisoner called John Hirst challenged the restrictions of his right to vote. The ECtHR ruled in his favour, calling the ban a ‘general, automatic and indiscriminate restriction’ which violated the right to free and fair elections
Cameron ignored the ruling, saying that the thought of prisoners ‘damn well shouldn’t’ be able to vote, arguing that it ‘should be a matter for Parliament… and not a foreign court”.
Prisoners will return to society and so should be included in the political process
Arguments against prisoners votes
Deprivation of the vote part of prisoners punishment?