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?
Arguments for Voter ID (brought in by 2022 Elections Act)
Prevents voter fraud (however little evidence of this being a problem)
The government argued that it would increase public confidence in the legitimacy of elections
A policy paper published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities in January 2023 said the requirements to produce photographic identification are “common” in democracies across the world, including most European countries.
The Electoral Commission has recommended it since 2014
Arguments against voter ID
Accusations of inconsistency in terms of which forms of ID are valid - e.g. an older person’s bus pass is allowed, but not a younger person’s, which has attracted a great deal of scepticism that the government is using Voter ID to increase its vote share (however, this is a difficult criticism to justify after the recent local elections in which the Tory vote share collapsed)
In the 2023 local elections, the new voter ID laws left 14,000 people unable to vote
Arguments for votes at 16
Access to social media - well informed generation
Despite the Conservative Party actively opposing votes at 16, 15 Year old Conservative Party members can vote in Conservative Leadership Elections, meaning that they were eligible to choose the next PM during the 2022 leadership challenge
Strongly affected by policy decisions (such as stopping government funding for BTECs)
Demand - 15,000 signatures on e-petition
In Scottish IndyRef, 80% of 16-17 year olds registered to vote (which notably was higher than 18-24 year olds)
Would build habits in younger people to vote for life
Arguments against votes at 16
Would be unusual - only 9 countries in the world have votes at 16
Ill-informed voting
Lack of interest
However, these arguments show deficit in political education rather than being convincing arguments for restricting the franchise.
What are referendums for?
Legitimising major government initiatives (Brexit, AV)
Response to public pressure (Indyref)
What was the referendum in 1998?
Northern Ireland ref on Good Friday agreement
Result - 71% in favour of
What was the referendum in 2011?
UK-wide referendum on changing to AV
68% in favour
Only 42% turnout
What was the referendum in 2014?
Indyref
55% voted remain
85% turnout
What was the referendum in 2016?
Brexit
52% leave
72% turnout
What are UK referendums exclusively on? (in comparison to other countries)
Constitutional issues
In comparison, Republic of Ireland has held referendums on issues such as divorce, abortion and gay marriage
Arguments for referendums
(More detail on mind map)
Regulated by electoral commission
Raises political awareness
Involves people directly (reflects public opinion better than FPTP)
Settles arguments
Arguments against referendums
(More detail on mind map)
Low turnout
Divisive
Challenge to parliamentary sovereignty
Governments can abuse power over process
Tyranny of activist minority
Average voter doesn’t understand complex constitutional issues
Lil referendums essay plan?
Govts can abuse power (e.g. Tony Blair promising lots, timing of Indyref - BUT electoral commission)
Can be divisive/set bad precedents (e.g. Brexit divisive, Chilean constitution ref divisive, rights issues like minarets and burkhas in Switzerland - BUT UK refs on constit issues so doesn’t have the same issue with rights)
Increases direct political participation (generally high turnout, BUT v dependent on topic - if average voter doesn’t understand complex constitutional issues then they won’t engage)
