democracy and participation

Question 1

direct democracy

Answer 1

a form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly as opposed to indirectly through their elected representatives. votes take place on specific questions e.g. the 2016 EU referendum.

Question 2

representative democracy

Answer 2

a system of democracy in which people vote for elected representatives, for example in local and general elections. elected representatives then make decisions on the people’s behalf.

Question 3

suffrage

Answer 3

the right to vote. universal suffrage effectively equates to democracy.

Question 4

participation

Answer 4

the various ways that people can get involved in the political process. these can range in scale for standing for elected office to signing an e-petition. the most central form of participation is voting in elections.

Question 5

partisan dealignment

Answer 5

the process whereby individuals become less partisan and predictable in supporting a particular political party.