Democracy and participation

Question 1

What is direct democracy?

Answer 1

People are engaged directly in political decision-making, and make decisions for themselves, Usually decisions on specific and limited issues.

Question 2

How is direct democracy used in the UK?

Answer 2

Referendums e.g. Brexit referendum 2016

Question 3

What is representative democracy?

Answer 3

People vote for someone to engage in political decision-making on their behalf.

Question 4

How is representative democracy used in the UK?

Answer 4

MPs elected in each constituency to serve in UK parliament. Local councillors. Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish representatives elected to serve in devolved bodies. e.g. general election 2019 Conservative party given the mandate to govern due to majority of seats won.

Question 5

Similarities between direct and representative democracy

Answer 5

-engaging the population in political decision-making
-encouraging political education
-recognition of the people as the main source of political power
-balance of competing interests within a country

Question 6

Advantages of direct democracy

Answer 6

-everyone within the franchise has their voice directly heard
-encourages political participation and education
-decisions reached have greater legitimacy
-solving controversial issues

Question 7

Disadvantages of direct democracy

Answer 7

-difficult to use frequently with millions of citizens on many decisions
-removes accountability of politicians
-tyranny of the majority as the minority are unlikely to be heard
-referendums on complex issues which not all citizens have time to understand

Question 8

Advantages of representative democracy

Answer 8

-electing representatives works
-representatives can be held to account for decisions, so poor representatives can be replaced
-avoiding tyranny of the majority
-elected representatives have time to understand complex issues before making decisions

Question 9

Disadvantages of representative democracy

Answer 9

-not all constituents’ voices are heard
-encourage political apathy as the representative takes responsibility
-decisions can lack legitimacy when made by representatives elected years ago

Question 10

What is legitimacy?

Answer 10

The rightful exercise of political power, usually by a government by winning a free and fair election

Question 11

What is tyranny of the majority?

Answer 11

Situation where the will of the majority of the people in a country is used to make decisions, ignoring minority needs.

Question 12

What is liberal democracy?

Answer 12

Free, fair and frequent elections. Free media. Tolerance of views. Protection of rights. Limited government

Question 13

What is pluralist democracy?

Answer 13

Tolerance of views. Many locations of political power. Competing parties between which power can change hands.

Question 14

What is elitist democracy?

Answer 14

Power concentrated to the hands of few. Political decision-making dominated by the small number of people, often wealthy and well-educated.

Question 15

What concerns are there with UK democracy?

Answer 15

-falling voter engagement (2024 general election turnout 60%)
-extent of the franchise (citizens under 18 cannot vote)
-lack of engagement opportunity between elections
-representatives only held to account at elections

Question 16

How to reform to increase voter turnout?

Answer 16

Compulsory voting or online voting. Increased turnout improves legitimacy. However, this would not improve political education as votes could be cast randomly=, without any knowledge. Concern for the security of online voting.

Question 17

How to reform to extend the franchise?

Answer 17

Lower voting age to 16 to encourage political engagement of younger people and increase legitimacy. However, there are questions over the maturity of 16 year olds to vote.

Question 18

How to reform to improve opportunities for political engagement?

Answer 18

Increased use of referendums or e-democracy such as petitions to encourage political participation of young people and increase legitimacy. However, this could undermine representative democracy and make representatives less accountable for their decisions.

Question 19

How to reform for increasing accountability of representatives?

Answer 19

Improve the ability of constituents to use acts such as the Recall of MPs Act 2015 to improve the relationship between MPs and their constituency, and the effectiveness of representation.

Question 20

What is the franchise?

Answer 20

The right to vote. The extent of the franchise is those with the right to vote (18 year olds in the UK)

Question 21

The Reform Act 1832

Answer 21

Enfranchised middle-class men

Question 22

The Reform Acts 1867 and 1884

Answer 22

Enfranchised working-class householders in boroughs and counties

Question 23

The Ballot Act 1872

Answer 23

Made voting in secret compulsory

Question 24

The Suffragists’ lobbying 1897

Answer 24

Lobbying of parliament to extend the franchise to women

Question 25

The Suffragettes’ protests 1903-1914

Answer 25

Hunger strike, violent and destruction to extend the franchise to women

Question 26

The Representation of the People Act 1918

Answer 26

All men over 21 and women over 30 with a property qualification could vote in general elections

Question 27

Representation of the People Act 1928

Answer 27

Extension of the franchise to men and women aged over 21

Question 28

Representation of the People Act 1969

Answer 28

Lowered voting age to 18

Question 29

Scottish Independence referendum 2014

Answer 29

16 and 17 year olds allowed to vote

Question 30

Votes at 16 in Scotland 2015

Answer 30

Scottish parliament legislated to lower voting age to 16 in Scottish local and parliamentary elections

Question 31

How people participate in democracy in the UK

Answer 31

-voting (in local, national or general elections)
-standing in elections
-joining a political party (can shape policy direction)
-joining a pressure group/ political movement (social media allows involvement in issues relevant to them e.g. MeToo movement)
-signing e-petitions (petition with 10,000+ signatures will get a response from government, petition with 100,000+ may be debates in HOC)