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A Level Politics > Democracy and Participation > Flashcards

Democracy and Participation Flashcards

1
Q

What is a constitution?

A

A set of rules society has to follow

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2
Q

What are the 2 types of constitution?

A

Codified and Uncodified

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3
Q

What does a codified constitution mean and name an example of a country that uses that type of constitution?

A

The rules is all in one document, like USA.

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4
Q

What does a uncodified constitution mean and name an example of a country that uses that type of constitution?

A

The rules are in many documents, like the UK.

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5
Q

Define the term Populist.

A

Someone who is placed in power due to their popularity (i.e. Donald Trump).

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6
Q

What were Plato’s 4 main criticisms on democracy?

A

-Lack of authority and respect would lead to disorder
-People would not respect their peers and their decisions
-Interests of the majority leave the minority behind
-Lack of equality (e.g. women, slaves and children not given the right to vote or represent people

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7
Q

What 2 things did Plato believe about democracy?

A

-People should be ruled by their superiors
-Democracy told people they are equal, yet in reality, they are not

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8
Q

What is a Direct Democracy?

A

A democracy where people themselves make key decisions; in modern societies this usually takes the form of holding referendums.

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9
Q

What is a Representative (indirect) Democracy?

A

A democracy where people elect or somehow choose representatives who make political decisions on their behalf; it also implies that representatives are accountable for what they do.

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10
Q

Name 2 advantages of a Direct Democracy.

A

-Peoples voices are heard
-Avoids delay and deadlock within the political system
-Gives great legitimacy

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11
Q

Name 3 disadvantages to Direct Democracy.

A

-Can lead to ‘tyranny of the majority’, as in an indirect democracy, representatives can mediate between the interests of minorities and majorities
-People too easily swayed to populist people/ideas short-term
-Too complex for the general public to fully understand

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12
Q

Name 2 advantages in a Representative (Indirect) Democracy.

A

-The general public cannot be expected to have the time or interests in important/regular issues and decisions
-Reps can educate the public on political issues

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13
Q

Name 2 disadvantages of Representative (Indirect) Decomcracy.

A

-Representatives may distort peoples demands to suit their own preferences
-Representatives may try not to hold the level of accountability they should

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14
Q

What is a Manifesto?

A

A statement of a parties agreed policies produced during an election campaign to inform the public about the political platform upon which its candidates are standing; candidates for the party are expected to support the manifesto and usually do in the UK.

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15
Q

What is a democracy?

A

Where people have the right to make a decision or an opinion that the government has to bear in mind.

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16
Q

Define a Limited Goverment.

A

The belief that the government should have certain restrictions in order to protect the individual rights and civil liberties of citizens so there is no misuse of power.

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17
Q

What is a democratic deficit?

A

An insufficient level of democracy in political institutions and procedures in comparison with a theoretical ideal of a democratic government.

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18
Q

What is pluralism?

A

The view that liberal democracies power is (or should be) dispersed among a variety of economic and ideological pressure groups and is not (or should not be) held by a single elite or group of elites.

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19
Q

What is Elitism?

A

A belief that a small minority of people dominate elite and policy-planning network of a country.

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20
Q

What does FPTP mean?

A

First Past The Post.

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21
Q

What happens in a FPTP system?

A

The candidate with the most votes in each constituency gets the seat, it is also about where you get your seats from.

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22
Q

Name 1 advantage of a FPTP system.

A

It stops populist or extremist parties getting too much power.

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23
Q

Name 1 disadvantage of a FPTP system.

A

Safe seats makes it more tricky to get change.

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24
Q

What do safe seats mean?

A

Voting for the same party every time.

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25
Q

What is 1 disadvantage of safe seats?

A

They make it more tricky to get change.

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26
Q

What are the 10 key features of a liberal democracy?

A
  • Peaceful transition of power
  • Free elections
  • Fair elections
  • Widespread participation in politics
  • Freedom of expression and information
  • Freedom of Association
  • Protection of rights and liberties
  • The rule of law
  • Independent Judiciary
  • Limited government and constitutionalism
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27
Q

What does The peaceful transition of power mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

That those who lose power by democratic means accept the authority of those who have won.

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28
Q

What does Free Elections mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

All adults are free to vote and to stand for office, often described as ‘universal suffrage’; No significant groups (like women) are excluded.q

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29
Q

What do Fair Elections mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

That everyone has the right to one vote each where they are all of equal value, to avoid electoral fraud and ballot-rigging.

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30
Q

What does Widespread participation in politics mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

A well informed and active population can prevent government becoming too dictatorial.

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31
Q

What does Freedom of expression and information mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

Free media with no government censorship or interference to ensure democracy survives.

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32
Q

What does Freedom of association mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

The freedom to form parties or pressure groups, if their aims and methods are legal

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33
Q

What does Protection of rights and liberties mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

The idea that the rights and liberties of citizens should be firmly safeguarded, and it should be enforced.

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34
Q

What does The rule of law mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

The basic principle that all citizens should be treated equally under the law and that the government should b`e subject to the same laws as citizens.

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35
Q

What does Independent Judiciary mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

Ensuring that the rule of law is upheld, so everyone is treated equally under law and that government does not exceed its authority.

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36
Q

What does Limited Government and constitutionalism mean?
(in terms of key features in a liberal democracy)

A

Setting firm limits to the power of government; this can be done by constitutionalism, define the government in a constitution which will be enforced by the forces of law to limit the governments power.

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37
Q

What are the 5 different intensity levels of participation?

A
  1. Standing for election
  2. Active party membership
  3. Active pressure group membership
  4. Digital activist
  5. Voting
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38
Q

Name 3 reasons that participation is essential for a healthy democracy.

A
  • Reduces accountability
  • Low turnout risks undermining legitimacy of the government
  • Leads to ‘elective dictatorship’
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39
Q

What is a metropolitan authority?

A

The local government of a city or area (large e.g. London, West Mids.).

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40
Q

Define a Manifesto.

A

A list of political parties policies that they put together before an election.

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41
Q

What is suffrage?

A

The right to vote, like being enfranchised, hence the suffragettes (women voting protests).

42
Q

When did women get the right to vote and which women were eligible?

A

1918, if they were married or owned land.

43
Q

When was the Scottish referendum?

A

2014

44
Q

When was the EU referendum?

A

2016

45
Q

When was the last coalition in the UK and who did it concern?

A

2010, Lib Dems and Conservatives.

46
Q

What are pressure groups called in the US?

A

Interest groups.

47
Q

What is a promotional group?

A

A group who seek to promote a particular cause which anyone can become members of.

48
Q

What is a sectional group?

A

A group that represents a certain part of society, and only people of that society can be a member.

49
Q

What is a Think tank?

A

A group of experts from different backgrounds to offer solutions to political issues.

50
Q

Name 1 way pressure groups support democracy.

A

They get the public involved in politics.

51
Q

What is one way that Think Tanks support democracy?

A

They include people from many different backgrounds, so it is more representative.

52
Q

What is one way that pressure groups hinder democracy?

A

They may use threats or bribery so that the gov. do what they want them to do.

53
Q

What are 2 ways that Think Tanks hinder democracy?

A
  • They may recommend something just because they want it to happen, so they are bias
  • Partially pointless, they can just be ignored.
54
Q

Are there any ways that Lobbyists support democracy?

A

NO. BIG FAT NO.

55
Q

What are 2 ways that Lobbyists hinder democracy?

A
  • Allows rich people (who can afford to hire them) voices heard first
  • Use bribes
56
Q

Are there any ways that Corporations support democracy?

A

NO. BIG FAT NO.

57
Q

Name 1 way that Corporations hinder democracy.

A

Big businesses promote their own interests ahead of everyone else’s.

58
Q

Define Human Rights.

A

Absolute, universal and fundamental essentials to life that cannot be removed.

59
Q

After what catastrophic event did Human Right emerge?

A

After WW2

60
Q

What are civil liberties?

A

the protections citizens have against government and the state.

61
Q

What are civil rights?

A

rights guaranteed by the state, which are in practice.

62
Q

What year was the Magna Carta?

A

1215

63
Q

What did the 1215 Magna Carta do?

A

Limit the power of the monarch and protection from the arbitrary rule.

64
Q

When was the Bill Of Rights?

A

1689

65
Q

What did the 1689 Bill Of Rights do?

A

Limit the power of the monarch to enter a war

66
Q

What are the 2 main elements of the European Convention of Human Rights?

A
  • Right to a fair trial
  • No punishment without law
67
Q

When was the Human Rights Act?

A

1998

68
Q

What was Article 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

Everyone’s life should be protected by law

69
Q

What was Article 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

No one shall be subject to inhumane torture or treatment.

70
Q

What was Article 5 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person.

71
Q

What was Article 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing.

72
Q

What was Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

The right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

73
Q

What was Article 9 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

Freedom of thought conscience and religion.

74
Q

What was Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

Freedom of expression

75
Q

What was Article 12 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

Right to marry and found a family

76
Q

What was Article 14 of the Human Rights Act 1998?

A

Freedom from Discrimination.

77
Q

What did the Freedom of Information act 2000 do?

A

It created legal right for citizens to access information held by public organisations, both personal (relating to them) and widely (the public interest).

78
Q

When was the Freedom of Information Act?

A

2000

79
Q

When was the Equality Act?

A

2010

80
Q

What 2 other Acts was the 2010 Equality Act built on top of?

A

Race Relations Act 1975 and the Equal Pay Act 1970.

81
Q

What did the 2010 Equality Act do?

A

Outlaw discrimination against all groups in society.

82
Q

Parliament is…

A

…Sovereign.

83
Q

With rights comes…

A

…responsibilities

e.g. obey laws, pay taxes, undertake jury service, care for your children.

84
Q

What conflicting collective right goes against the individual right ‘Freedom Of Expression’?

A

Offence to religious groups.

85
Q

What conflicting collective right goes against the individual right ‘Privacy’?

A

Interception of Communication

86
Q

What conflicting collective right goes against the individual right ‘Demonstate’?

A

Hinders community freedom of movement.

87
Q

What conflicting collective right goes against the individual right ‘Press Freedom’?

A

Keeping Private lives ‘Private’

88
Q

What conflicting collective right goes against the individual right ‘To Strike’?

A

Interrupts delivery of public service.

89
Q

What are our 2 case studies for pressure groups?

A

Liberty
Amnesty International

90
Q

What are Liberty’s 5 methods?

A
  • Public campaigning
  • Test case litigation
  • Parliamentary work
  • Policy analysis
  • Free legal advice + information
91
Q

Name 1 success of a pressure group case study Liberty?

A

Gulf War, freed 100 Iraqi nationals to be released from being detained due to the susception they were a national security threat.

92
Q

Name 1 failure of a pressure group case study Liberty?

A

2019, lost in high court challenging a surveillance law#, as the IPA apparently had ‘several safeguards’ against the possible abuse of power.

93
Q

What were the 2 reasons as to why the pressure group case study Liberty was successful?

A
  • Diversity in their supporters/workers etc
  • Insider group, meets with many people including backbench and frontbench MP’s.
94
Q

What were the 5 methods used by our case study pressure group Amnesty International?

A
  • Investigating and exposing abuses
  • Educating future generations
  • Inform the media for awareness
  • Publicize concerns
  • Confront the gov. with issues
95
Q

What is 1 success of our pressure group case study Amnesty International?

A

March 2021, released several prisoners in Bahrain, including 4 children who were trialled as adults, their 6 month sentence was suspended.

96
Q

What is 1 failure of our pressure group case study Amnesty International?

A

2019 review found it to be a toxic environment due to bullying.

97
Q

What are the 6 reasons as to why our pressure group case study Amnesty International is successful?

A
  • Independence
  • Long-term commitment
  • Global reach
  • Collaboration
  • Supporters
  • Political influence
98
Q

How much did the Cabinet Office estimate the 2016 EU Referendum to cost to run?

A

£141m

99
Q

When was the Alternative Vote referendum and what was the outcome?

A

2011, people still wanted the FPTP system.

100
Q

What was one way the EU referendum voting system was changed to avoid bias?

A

“yes/no” options were changed to “remain/leave”.

A Level Politics (2 decks)

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