Democracy And Participation

Question 1

Direct democracy

Answer 1

All individuals express opinions themselves.
Emerged in Athens
Referendums.
Add legitimacy to decisions made by politicians.
Impracticable.
Issues too complex to understand.
Purest form of democracy

Question 2

Representative democracy

Answer 2

Modern form
Individual selects person to act on behalf and exercise political choice
Those elected held to account by people.

✅representatives can be held to account for thier actions at election time.
❎ Representative bodies can be unrepresentative + may ignore concerns and needs of minorities.

Question 3

Causal representation

Answer 3

Set of beliefs, principles or demands they believe will benefit whole community e.g Friends of the earth (environmental causes.)
Or
Formal membership will represent their ‘section’ of society by promoting policies that’ll benefit them. Sectional pressure groups eg British Medical Association.

Question 4

Similarities

Answer 4

Both are designed to implement will of people and based on concept of majority rule.
People can be influenced by powerful individuals including politicians and those on media.

Question 5

Differences

Answer 5

Direct- individuals express own opinions. Representative- citizens elect representatives to decide on their behalf.
Representative- government is elected which can be held to account by ppl.
Representative- protections for minority. Direct- rule of majority.