Democracy and participation Flashcards
Key features of direct democracy
- People have influence over political decision making
- Government is accountable to the people
- free and fair elections so the government is considered legitimate
- Different beliefs, political parties and political associations are tolerated.
Advantages of direct democracy
- purest form of democracy: citizens directly participate
- increased participation: engages citizens in the decision making process
- Transparency: Clear communication between government and the people.
Disadvantages of direct democracy
- Lack of expertise: voters may not have necessary knowledge to make informed decisions
- Time-consuming and expensive: Frequent referendums can be costly (e.g., £142.4 million for the 2016 EU referendum).
- Tyranny of the majority: Minority interests can be ignored, potentially infringing on rights.
What is a representative democracy
people elect representatives who take decisions on their own behalf
what are some features of a representative democracy?
- representatives don’t take instructions from voters, they are expected to exercise their own judgement
- they are held accountable on regular elections
what are some advantages of a representative democracy
- better decision making: politicians are generally better informed than the average citizen, so they are better to make decisions
- Representatives are held accountable through regular elections.
- In a representative democracy, elected officials can protect the rights of minorities, even if the majority does not support them.
give two disadvantages of a representative democracy
- Elected representatives may not always act in the best interest of their constituents, focusing on their own interests instead.
- In a representative democracy, citizens may feel disconnected from politics and not participate in elections.
what was the Great Reform Act 1832
-Many rotten boroughs were abolished as they were controlled by elites
- introduced new constituencies which better represent the population
- reduced property qualifications, allowing more men to vote, but excluded women and the working class
what was the 1918 Representation of the People Act?
- granted women over the age of 30 the right to vote, with certain property qualifications
- men over the age of 21 were able to vote
what was the 1928 Rep of the People Act?
- the voting age for women was lowered to 21
- equal voting rights to men
what was the 1969 Representation of the People Act?
- reduced the voting age from 21 to 18
what is a democratic deficit
The belief that democracy is not functioning as it should and is failing to ensure sufficient accountability and legitimacy.
How does the concept of democratic deficit relate to the House of lords?
- unelected
- membership is appointed
- cannot be held accountable
How does the media contribute to a democratic deficit?
- Wealthy elites, such as Rupert Murdoch, control major media outlets
- biased reporting and propaganda, potentially undermining democratic processes.
What are some forms of political participation?
- voting in elections
- party membership
- pressure groups e.g. BLM
- E-petitions e.g., 23 million petition signers since 2015
- protests
what are the arguments that there is a participation crisis within the UK?
- Voter Turnout has declined: e.g. 76% (1945-1997) to 59.8% in 2024.
- Party membership has declined: e.g. Only 1.6% of voters belong to the three main political parties, down from 3.8% in 1983.
- disengagement among younger voters: In 2019, only 47% of 18-24-year-olds voted, compared to 74% of those aged 65+
what are the arguments that the UK is not experiencing a participation crisis
- increased use of direct democracy: e.g., 2016 Brexit referendum had 72.2% turnout
- growth of pressure groups: e.g. Extinction Rebellion and Black Lives Matter UK
- more use of social media: e.g. since 2015 nearly 23 million individuals have initiated or signed petitions, representing approximately 35% of the UK population.
What are some arguments for compulsory voting?
- increased legitimacy: higher voter turnout means election results better reflect will of the people
- ensures representation: all demographics are represented
- help policies that reflect wider section of society
What are some arguments against compulsory voting?
- violates rights as people should have the right to decide
- could lead to uniformed voting as people may just vote to avoid fines
What is partisan dealignment?
- weakening of traditional bond between voters and political parties
what are some main causes of partisan dealignment?
- Traditional class-based voting (e.g., working class = Labour) is less relevant today so voters no longer vote purely based on class.
- media influence: greater access to diverse news exposes voters to wide range of political info
- Increased amount of political parties: With more options, voters feel freer to switch parties based on policies or individual issues
