Democracy and participation

Question 1

Who is excluded from UK elections

Answer 1

• Under 18
• EU citizens unless Irish
• Members of HoL
• Prisoners
• Psychiatric hospital patients
• People convicted of illegal electoral practice

Question 2

The Great Reform Act

Answer 2

1832 was first major change, abolish rotten boroughs, gave vote to tenant farmers and smaller property holders, increase to est 5% of adult population.

Question 3

Development of the franchise

Answer 3

• 1832 Great Reform
• 1838-48 Chartist movement
• 1867 Second reform
• 1884 Third reform
• 1918 Representation of the people act, cover over 75% of population, some women and all men for the first time
• 1928 Full adult suffrage
• 1969 Age lowered to 18
• 2015 Scottish reduction to 16
• 2020 Welsh reduction to 16

Question 4

Arguments for and against voting at 16

Answer 4

For:
- Already given responsibilities: can already pay taxes, leave school etc.
- Belief they’re apathetic is wrong: 75% of 16-18 took part in Indyref, may engage in less traditional ways like social media, being excluded may increase apathy, 2017 petition signed by 15 000
- Would force parties to listen to younger: younger issues like education, tuition largely ignored as no voice
- Belief uneducated wrong: state schools provide citizenship, not necessarily less educated than adults.

Against:
- Education remains limited: citizenship very minor part of curriculum
- Low turnout: historically low turnout in 18-24 like 43% in 2015, should focus on their political engagement not lowering age, Indyref anomaly for all age groups
- Rights remain limited: cannot marry any more, need parent’s permission for most things, have to stay in education
- Bias: from parents peers and social media may lead to uninformed voting
- Other opportunities: voting not the only method to affect policy, can engage through campaigns, petitions etc.

Question 5

Voter ID rules

Answer 5

UK rules first applied in 2023 local elections, electoral commission report: around 14 000 people turned away, and around 4% of non-voters said it was due to ID rules, accusations that it disproportionately affects young as older persons bus passes acceptable but not young, estimated 14% unemployed people don’t have suitable ID.

Question 6

Arguments for and against prisoners votes

Answer 6

For:
- Hirst v UK ECHR case ruled broke Article 3 in 2005, contradicts unconditional voting, means we now allow around 100 of 80 000 prisoners the vote
- Would allow engagement with issues outside prison, have say in the society they rejoin, S Africa and Ireland both allow, promote civic responsibility
- Not all crimes the same, not all involve violating human rights, shouldn’t blanket ban
- They’re still citizens, should not be dehumanised
- Force attention to prisoners issues like conditions and mental health care
- Refusing vote a class and deprivation issue.

Against:
- Don’t respect law should not have a say in it
- Unpopular with the public so would cause political tension, MPs overwhelmingly against
- Voting not an absolute right, their right to freedom is also limited so reasonable to suspend others
- Not fully in society eg can’t do jury duty or pay taxes, also far removed so would not be a totally informed decision
- Not enough to properly affect elections
- Should address class and deprivation issues before prison.

Question 7

Impact of pressure groups and co essay plan

Answer 7

Little impact:
- Government can and has ignored eg Stop the War, tuition fees, recent Gaza protests
- Tend to ignore incompatible views eg left leaning think tanks like PR, NFU insider but still not get way with trade
- Some organisations lack resources, govt often has monopoly on information, have to have resources to have impact eg Occupy and XR lack of hierarchy, Postmasters org couldn’t get hearing
- Collective organisations often cancel themselves out eg Right to Life and BPA service over abortion, RSPCA vs Countryside Alliance over hunting bans (still loopholes)

Large impact (pair in order):
- Government conscious of collective action eg National trust 6 million members U turn on relaxing housing laws
- Many groups have high political profile eg Unions like the BMA, IEA etc
- Collective action has led to change in policy and social media lowers barriers eg Rashford and Fareshare free school meals in Covid, BMA sugar tax, #MeToo
- Many organisations have direct input into government policy eg IEA, trade unions eg Blair and minimum wage, Institute for Govt reform of civil service.

Question 8

The case for reform of UK democracy essay plan

Answer 8

Elections:
- Electoral system doesn’t represent minority views due to winners bonus and plurality system eg UKIP 2015 won over 12% but only one seat, reform could be more proportional system
- However free and fair elections, FPTP creates strong governments with strong constituency link eg Anne Marie Morris prioritise constituents, caveat - misuse of this eg Rwanda despite court ruling

House of Lords (but maybe not for paper 1 question):
- Undemocratic as not elected, only half stage one of Blair’s reform completed, hereditary peers, Bishops, bloated (over 850 MPs), corrupt appointments, reform could be make elected second chamber, or just oust hereditary
- Important function in scrutiny and improving legislation, input vs output legitimacy, unelected mean cannot control through whip, over 180 crossbenchers, no majority, caveat - could still perform same function without hereditary

Also franchise issues, rights protection, and media and lobbying influence.