Democracy and participation

Question 1

What is democracy

Answer 1

Democracy refers to a society where the people have real influence over the political decisions that will affect them, either directly or through representatives. It also means that government is accountable to the people.

Question 2

What are the key features of democracy

Answer 2

The people have influence over political decision making

There goverment is accountable to the people

here are free and fair elections so that the government is granted legitimacy.

Different beliefs, political parties and political associations are tolerated.

The media are free and independent.

The rights of citizens are legally guaranteed.

here are legal limits to the powers of government, established by a constitution consent of the people.

and an independent judiciary.

Question 3

What does legitimacy mean

Answer 3

thw idea that a government has a rightto govern, normally granted through elections implying that it has the consent of the people

Question 4

Representtive and Direct democracy:

What is direct democracy

Answer 4

a from of democracy where people make political decisions directly instead of thier elected representatives

Question 5

What are the key features of direct democracy

Answer 5

the people make decisions directly

the government acts on the instructions of the people

the people make decisions based on single issues

the people must be educated and enaged in the issues and the process

Decisions will be based on majoritarian outcomes though with some protections for minorities

Question 6

Arguements for direct democracy

Answer 6

It is the purest form of democarcy. The people’s voice is clearly heard

It can avoid delay and deadlock within the political system

The fact that people are making the decisions gives greater legitimacy

Question 7

Arguements against direct democracy

Answer 7

It can lead to the tyranny of the majority whereby the winning majority ignores the interests of the minority

the people may be too easily swayed by short term emotional appeals by charismatic individuals

Some issues may be too complex for the ordinary citizen to understand.

Question 8

What is representative democracy

Answer 8

representative democracy is a system where people are represented wither though elected officials and bodies or through representative groups such as pressure groups

Question 9

What are the main features of representative democracy

Answer 9

Decisions will be made by elevcted bodies such as a parliament

the process relies on regular elections

Different groups will offer choices to the people

the government must act based on what it believes to be in the best interests of the nation

the government must answer to the people through elections

the public should be enagaed and informed during election campaigns but do not need to be so well informed at other times

Question 10

What are the similarities between direct and representative democracy

Answer 10

opular consent is importantamojorty

There is an active role for the people.

• The decisions of the government derive from the people esset es-truss’s deciions on lie eccroy ked li enjation .

The actions of the government are accountable to the people.

The public must be informed and engaged in political matters.

The processes will be governed by constitutional laws and rules.

Question 11

What are the differences between direct and representative democracy

Answer 11

With direct democracy the people themselves make political decisions, while with representative democracy decisions are made by members of elected bodies.

With direct democracy decisions are made by referendum whereas with representative democracy decisions are made by government and elected assemblies.

With direct democracy the people decide on single issues while in representative democracy people choose between full political programmes at elections.

Question 12

Advantages of direct democarcy

Answer 12

It gives legitimacy to political decisions if the people themselves make them.

It is a decisive form of decision making and avoids excessive debate within the political system.

Decisions made by the people cannot be overturned by political leaders.

Question 13

Disadvantages of direct democracy

Answer 13

Issues may be too complex for people to judge.

The people may be swayed in their judgement by emotional appeals and false claims and informatide. isiey, may not have enough information to make a rational decision.

Recisions, which repos to make ally acountable for their people cannot be held accountable to themselves. deople cannot be held account thie to at responsibly.

Question 14

Advantages of representative democarcy

Answer 14

Representatives may have expert knowledge and experience which the general public do not possess.

Representatives are likely to be more rational and less likely to be swayed by emotional appeals.

Representatives are democratically accountable and therefore should behave in a responsible way.

Question 15

Disadvantages of representative democarcy

Answer 15

Elected representatives may be more interested in party politics than in the national interest. In general, parties may exercise too much control over their elected members.

There is no guarantee that representatives, whether elected or not, accurately reflect the views of those whom they claim to represent.

The UK electoral system produces a highly unrepresentative result.

Question 16

The case for reform of representative democracy

What are the main problems with UK democracy

Answer 16

The House of Lords is unelected.

General elections produce unrepresentative outcomes. Governments may achieve an overall majority of the seats in parliament, but they never achieve a majority of the total votes,

Some parties, such as the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, are underrepresented because of the electoral system, while others, such as Conservatives, Labour and SNP are over-represented.

The system of devolution has led to an imbalance of representation across the UK.

There is a lack of government accountability between elections and accountability to Parliament is weak.

Question 17

What is a democractic deficeit

Answer 17

a flaw in the system where not enough democractic input occurs for those elected or in decision making

Question 18

What are the positives of elections

Answer 18

Nearly all over 18

There is little electoral fraud and strong legal safeguards exist to prevent fraud.

Question 19

What are the negatives of elections

Answer 19

In general elections, the first-past-the-post system distorts support for parties and produces an unrepresentative

House of Commons.

Question 20

how could elections be reformed

Answer 20

Reform the electoral system and introduce some form of proportional representation

Question 21

What are the postives of Parliament

Answer 21

The House of

Commons can hold the government to account.

Question 22

What are the negatives of Parliament

Answer 22

The House of Lords is unelected.

Question 23

How could Parliament be reformed

Answer 23

Introduce an elected second chamber.

Question 24

What are the positives in the way that power is distributed through the UK

Answer 24

Devolution has spread power away from London to the national regions.

Question 25

What are the negatives in the way that power is distributed through the UK

Answer 25

Devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have varying powers.

England has no form of devolved representation, other than for some cities.

Question 26

How could the way that power is distributed in the UK be reformed

Answer 26

Grant further powers to devolved governments,

Create English devolution.

Question 27

What are the positives about public participation

Answer 27

People are free to vote, to stand for office and to express political views.

Question 28

What are the negatives about public participation

Answer 28

Turnouts at elections remain low by historical standards, while party membership is also lower than typically before the 1990s.

Question 29

What reforms could be made on public participation

Answer 29

A fairer electoral system might encourage more voting.

Widen the franchise to 16+ voters and perhaps make voting compulsory.

Question 30

What are the postives in the way that the UK handles people’s proptection of rights and liberties

Answer 30

Strong in the UK.

The country is signed up to the

Question 31

What are the negatives in the way that the UK handles people’s proptection of rights and liberties

Answer 31

Parliament is sovereign, which means that it can remove or weaken the protection of rights.

Question 32

What reforms could be made in the way the UK protects people’s rights and liberties

Answer 32

Make Parliament

subject to the ECHR. → European Convention on Human Rights

(ECHR) and the courts enforce it. The Supreme Court and the judiciary enforce the rule of law.

Question 33

How can people participate in politics

Answer 33

voting in elections and referendums

being a member of a political party

being an especially active member of a political party

standing for election to public office at local, regional or national level becoming a member of a pressure group or campaign group

becoming involved in political campaigns online, including signing e-petitions It is sometimes said that the UK is suffering from a participation crisis.

Question 34

What is a participation crisis

Answer 34

A belief, common in the twenty-first century, that political participation in the UK has declined so much that it has become a threat to the democratic health of the nation.

UK government and politics

Question 35

Is the UK suffering from a participation crsis. (YES)

Answer 35

Evidence that it does

Turnout at elections has been low in recent years, despite a small recovery in 2010-17, and variable at referendums.

Membership of parties has declined significantly over the past 30 years.

There is a good deal of disillusion and apathy, especially among the young who have become disengaged from

party politics.

Support for the two main parties has been in decline.

Question 36

Is the UK suffering from a participation crsis. (NO)

Answer 36

Several e-petitions have had very high response rates (e.g. for a second EU referendum in 2016 (3.8 million) and against a road pricing scheme in 2007 (1.8 million).

Membership of the Labour, Liberal Democratic, Green and

Scottish National parties grew in the period 2015-19 sound mever ents and online alid in pressure groups,

social movements and online campaigns.

Support for alternative parties and pressure groups has grown markedly since the 1990s.

Question 37

What reforms would increase particpoiation and voter turnout

Answer 37

make voting compulsory
make registering to vote more convenient, especially online

possibly introduce online voting

introduce weekend voting

encourage more political education in schools → P81€
extend the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds to encourage more voting among the young

Reforming the electoral system might also help to increase turnout at elections as some form of proportional representation would see fewer votes wasted’.

Question 38

Milestones in the widening of the franchise

Answer 38

Between 1832 (Great Reform Act) and 1928 the franchise was gradually extended.

In 1832 the franchise was extended to about 8% of the adult population.

In 1867 and 1884 the franchise was extended to most men but not women.

In 1918 the vote was given to married women over 30.

In 1928 the vote was given to all women.
In 1969 the vote was extended to all adults over 18 instead of over 21.

In 2016 16- and 17-year-olds were granted the vote in Scotland (though not for general elections).

Question 39

What does suffrage mean

Answer 39

this refers to th right to vote. The word franchise is a synomyn for vote

Question 40

The suffragettes and suffragists

Answer 40

The suffragettes used both legal and illegal methods to campaign for votes for women.

The suffragists stuck to legal methods. Their significance is:

• Contemporary pressure groups can learn a great deal from the methods of the votes for women movement.

They illustarte the fact that illegal mathods can bring beneficial publicity but can also be harmful to the cause

They demonsarte how a group of people excluded from the political can affect the process from the outside

They demonstrate the importance of the media pubcity and public support for achieveing goals

Question 41

What are the current debates about whether the franchise should be extended to them

Answer 41

16- and 17-year-olds

■

prisoners

• those sectioned for mental health reasons

Question 42

Should 16-17 year olds be given the vote (arguemenst for)

Answer 42

With the spread of citizenship education, young people are now better informed about politics than ever before.

Voting turnout among the 18-24-year-old age group is very low. Extending the franchise may encourage more people to become engaged with politics and to vote.

The internet and social media now enable young people to be better informed about politics.

If someone is old enough to serve in the army, get married or pay tax, they should be old enough to vote.

Question 43

Should 16-17 year olds be given the vote (arguemenst against)

Answer 43

16- and 17-year-olds are too young to be able to make rational judgements.

Many issues are too complex for younger people to

Few people in this age group pay tax so they have a lower stake in society.

Turnout among the young (18-24-year-olds) is much lower than the rest of society and where 16- and 17-year-olds have been given the right to vote, they turn out in even lower proportions.

Question 44

Should prisioners be given the vote (arguements for)

Question 45

Should prisioners be given the vote (arguements against)

Question 46

Should those who have been sectioned because of mental health be given the vote (arguements for)

Question 47

Should those who have been sectioned because of mental health be given the vote (arguements against)

Question 48

campaigns to extend the franchise:

Answer 48

The Votes at 16 campaign brings together many other groups who support lowering the franchise to 16. It uses a variety of methods including:

• organising petitions writing to MPs and peers

■

arranging meetings with MPs and political groups raising public awareness of the issue

So far the campaign has seen the right to vote in local and devolved elections in Scotland and Wales extended to 16- and 17-year-olds, but there has been no change in England or for general elections.

Question 49

What is a pressure group

Answer 49

Pressure group An association or movement that campaigns either to further the interests of a section of society or to further a particular cause or issue.

Question 50

Types of pressure groups

Answer 50

They do not have any power themselves but seek to influence those who do by working closely with them inside the political process (insider groups) or by organising campaigns against those in power from outside the political process (outsider groups).

Pressure groups, unlike other influencing groups, seek to promote policies that will benefit their members, either directly benefiting the members’ interests (sectional groups) or by benefiting a cause the members believe in (causal groups).

By competing with each other and promoting key causes on an equal basis, pressure groups can promote a system of pluralist democracy, although unfair or imbalanced competition can lead to elitism which undermines democracy.

Question 51

What is a pluarist democracy

Answer 51

Pluralist democracy A type of democracy where decisions are made by a neutral government based on the interplay of ideas between groups of equal status.

Question 51

Pressure group methods and factors in success or failure

Answer 51

Pressure groups experience varying degrees of success and failure. Success means promoting favourable legislation in parliament and preventing unfavourable legislation, as well as raising public awareness of an issue or persuading government to place an issue on the political agenda. Two areas of pressure group activity should be considered. These are the methods typically used by pressure groups (see Table 7) and the factors that contribute to their success or otherwise (see Table 8).

Question 52

What are the aims of BMA

Answer 52

To force government to withdraw a new contract for junior hospital doctors

Question 52

What is elitism

Answer 52

A feature of society and the political system which suggests that some groups wield a considerable amount of influence, giving them an unfair advantage in political discussion.

Question 52

What are the methods of BMA

Answer 52

Regular withdrawal of labour for routine operations and treatments

Question 52

What methods do friends of the earth use

Answer 52

Public campaigns to attract members

Research and publicity campaigns to highlight environmental problems

Lobbying ministers and parliament

Question 52

What are aims of friends of the earth

Answer 52

Promoting environmental protection

Question 52

What methods do liberty use

Answer 52

Initiating court cases against public bodies and government (mostly judicial reviews) when it is felt rights are under threat

Question 52

What are the aims of liberty

Answer 52

Protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms

Question 53

What makes some pressure groups more successful than others?

Answer 53

Success factors

Size: Many members and/or followers suggests more pressure on government and possibly more available funds. Example: Age UK

Finance: With ample funds a group can mount successful campaigns and use publicity. Example: UK Finance

Public opinion: Some campaign groups enjoy the widespread support of the public. Example: Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

Strategic position in society: Groups that are vital to society have more political leverage. Example: British Medical Association (BMA)

Government support: Some groups have views which accord with government policy. Example: Plane Stupid and the issue of a third runway at Heathrow since Boris Johnson became PM

Question 54

What makes some pressure groups more successful than others?

Answer 54

Failure factors

Small size: Such groups suffer from lack of active support and usually a lack of funds. Example: Local environmental protection groups

Limited finance: Without enough funds, a group can fail to promote or organise itself and get its message out. Example:

Save our Bluebell Common (Heaton Mersey Common)

Adverse public opinion: Some groups fail to capture the public imagination. Example: Pro-smoking group, Forest

Countervailing forces: Groups may fail because they face powerful adversaries. Example: Anti-fracking

groups are opposed by powerful energy companies Government opposition: Sometimes groups and their aims fall out of favour with government. Example: BMA strikes against a seven-day NHS