democracy and participation

Question 1

Direct democracy

Answer 1

A system where the people make political desicions

Question 2

representative democracy

Answer 2

a system where citizens elect representatives on there behalf

Question 3

power

Answer 3

the ability someone has to make us do something

Question 4

authority

Answer 4

the right to use power

Question 5

authority is…

Answer 5

authority is conditional on the widely held acceptance

Question 6

Accountability

Answer 6

the idea that governments answer to the public and they judge the governments actions

Question 7

vote of no confidence

Answer 7

parliament dismissing government

Question 8

Manifesto

Answer 8

a list of policies a party delivers during an election

Question 9

Mandate

Answer 9

when the public supports the government to carry out the policies on the manifesto.
- an expression of public opinion

Question 10

what does a mandate do

Answer 10

provides the government legitimacy to exercise power

Question 11

governing mandate

Answer 11

public support to act according to changing events eg covid

Question 12

personal mandate

Answer 12

the public places there support in the PM as supposed to the party

Question 13

doctrine of the mandate

Answer 13

• the government should carry out everything in there manifesto
• gives meaning to election results

-allows the public to hold the government accountable based on how well they delivered there manifesto.

Question 14

List 3 benefits of direct democracy

Answer 14

• the public have a genuine political impact on decision making
• potential to unite the public
  -instills a sense of civic duty into the public

Question 15

list 3 drawbacks of direct democracy

Answer 15

-makes decision making longer and less efficient
-the public get ‘voter fatigue’
- laws passed may target specific groups

Question 16

explain how direct democracy could lead to ‘a tyranny of the majority’

Answer 16

• public initiatives may target specific minority groups
• this leads to a situation where the majority are voting against a minority of people who don’t have the numbers to overwhelm the majority vote
• This then means the decisions effecting the minority ate decided by the majority and the minority don’t get a say

Question 17

explain how direct democrat could lead to a ‘tyranny of the minority’

Answer 17

the public get ‘voter fatigue’ leading to a lower levels of participation.

• this could lead to only the politically active and those with the resources and education voting.
  this creates divide as only people from certain demographics are voting for the whole population.

Question 18

list 3 issue of the doctrine of the mandate

Answer 18

-voters don’t necessarily understand or are aware of all the policies in there manifesto

-a policy mandate isn’t practical due to unforeseen events

-individual policies cant be separated from the whole manifesto

Question 18

what are the 4 features of a healthy democracy

Answer 18

-participation
-accountability
-representation
- the rule of law

Question 19

what is the rule of law

Answer 19

’ everyone is equal before the law, no one is above the law’

Question 20

participation crisis

Answer 20

the lack of people voting in elections is effecting the legitimacy of those governing.
this makes the country less democratic.

Question 21

good Friday agreement

Answer 21

bought an end to the troubles in northern island.

allowed northern island to establish its own parliament with shared power between parties.

Question 22

Trade unions

Answer 22

a group of employees who join together to ensure fair and good working standards

Question 23

direct action

Answer 23

protesting for change without going through parliament.

Question 24

civil disobeidence

Answer 24

justifiable law breaking for a cause

Question 25

democratic deficit

Answer 25

a flaw in the democratic system where decisions are made by those who lack legitimacy.

Question 26

constitution

Answer 26

a set of principles for the government to follow which describes the relationship between government and the public.

Question 27

initiative

Answer 27

gives people the power to propose new laws

Question 28

recall elections

Answer 28

where the public trigger an election to remove an official before there term is over

Question 29

by elections

Answer 29

when a seat in the house of commons becomes empty between general elections

Question 30

suffrage/franchise

Answer 30

the right to vote

Question 31

Edmund burke

Answer 31

came up with the trustee model
representatives have the voters best interests at heart which isn’t necessarily what the voter wants

Question 32

valance

Answer 32

competency and integrity

Question 33

post Thatcherite consensus

Answer 33

a general move towards right wing economics
eg labour shifting to the center

Question 34

casual representation

Answer 34

where representatives aren’t representing people but ideas

Question 35

representation of national interest

Answer 35

when individuals are trying to do whats best for the country

Question 36

lobbying

Answer 36

having direct contact with important decision makers such as government ministers

Question 37

pluralism

Answer 37

a democratic society where a wide range on competing political views are tolerated

Question 38

elitism

Answer 38

the concentration of power into a wealthy political class supported by businesses

Question 39

altruistic

Answer 39

aims to benefit all of society

Question 40

civil liberties

Answer 40

freedom (negative rights- you can do anything unless legally prohibited)

Question 41

Human rights

Answer 41

prescribed ( positive rights)

Question 42

judicial precedence

Answer 42

laws that has been as new cases arise

Question 43

think tanks

Answer 43

groups of professionals who work with government and do there own research

Question 44

sectional groups

Answer 44

represent specific groups in the workforce.
closed membership
seek close relationship with government

Question 45

virtue signalling

Answer 45

superficial support for a campaign.
a lesson in self promotion