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
E.g e-petitions

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.

Question 6

Liberal democracy

Answer 6

Individual rights + freedoms are recognised and protected and excercise of political power is protected by the rule of law.

Question 7

Free election

Answer 7

Universal suffrage that all adults have the right to vote.
All can excercise right to vote w/o fear , threats, intimidation.
One way to achieve this is secret ballot.

Question 8

Widespread participation in politics

Answer 8

✅many pressure groups memberships which are free and active. growing participation in e-democracy.
Growing level of participation in e-democracy. As of 13th April 2025, over 12 e-petitions had over 100k signs.
❎lower voter turnout
Party membership in decline,

Question 10

Democratic deficit

Answer 10

Flaw in democratic process where decisions taken by ppl who lack legitimacy due to not being subject to accountability.
Constitution- HRA acts as a restraint on gov.
But it’s not codified; limits to gov power are vague. Also parl. sovereignty means gov power can be increased w/o a constitutional safeguard.

Question 11

Compulsory voting

Answer 11

To avoid low turnout at elections.
✅Better democratic legitimacy to the governing party as turnout is increased.
More groups of society are involved in voting, have to ensure decisions address concerns of all.
❎larger parties will be favoured as uneducated voters copy their peers.
choosing not to vote can be a form of political protest( dissatisfied w all parties) could suppress dissent.