Democracy and Participation Flashcards
What are some examples of direct democracy?
- Brexit - Leave: 51.9, Turnout: 72.2%
- Recall of Mps Act (2015) - form of direct democracy because it allows constituents to directly removed their elected representative under certain conditions
- E-petitions - 2022 - call an immediate general election to end the chaos of the current government - 906k - written in a reaction to chaos that ensued at the end of Johnson’s premiership
What are some global examples of direct democracy?
- In June 2021, Swiss voters approved the COVID-19 Act, which provided the government with legal grounds to implement measures to manage the pandemic. The act was supported by 60.2% of voters.
- in 2024, turnout rates for federal referendums ranged from approximately 45% to 58%.
What are some similarities of representative democracy and direct democracy?
Similarities:
- Both Are Forms of Democracy – Citizens have a role in decision-making.
- Both Aim for Legitimacy – They seek to reflect the will of the people.
- Both Can Exist Together – Representative systems often use direct democratic tools (e.g., referendums).
- Both Require Public Participation – Voter engagement is essential for their effectiveness.
What are the benefits and negatives of recall elections?
Recall elections: Allow constituents to trigger a special election to remove elected representatives.
- For: May strengthen the link between the public and politicians and lead to less corruption.
- Against: Removes the ability for MPs to think for themselves. The public may believe lies and slander spread by rivals. Creates a tense atmosphere.
What are the benefits and negatives of initiatives ?
- Initiatives: allows people to propose a new law and is different to referendums as people choose the motion.
- For: Makes legislation more responsive to issues that are important for the public and provides more direct control.
- Against: Could cause the majority to oppress the minority.
What are the benefits and negatives of weekend voting?
For: Turn out in European countries increased by 10% for countries that use weekend voting. However, this could involve additional costs and there are concerns about electoral fraud.
What are the benefits and negatives reduce the voting age?
- For: Would increase, turn out, and diversify ideological views represented in Commons. Allow young people to have a say in the future direction of the country.
- However, some argue that 16 to 18-year-olds have little interest in politics and do not relate to the issues, Raised in the election campaign and are largely apathetic towards politics.
What did the 1832 The Great Reform Act?
This abolished rotten boroughs.
What did the1867 the Second Reform Act?
gave the vote to agricultural land owners and men who met property qualifications.
What did the 1884 Third Reform Act do ?
Established a Uniform franchise throughout the country.
What did the 1918 Representation of the Peoples Act do?
- abolished all property qualifications for men and enfranchised women over 30 who met minimum property qualifications.
What did the 1928 Equal Franchise Act do?
All adults over the age of 21, could vote illuminated all property qualifications for women.
What did the 1969 Representation of the Peoples Act do?
Reduced voting age from 21 to 18
What was the Make Votes Matter campaign?
- This cross-party campaign seeks to replace the UK’s first-past-the-post voting system with proportional representation. By advocating for a PR system.
What were the votes at the 16 coalition campaign?
This coalition comprises major UK youth organizations, political parties, and other supporters advocating for 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in all UK public elections
What are the successful and unsuccessful insider groups?
- Successful: 2024: the BMA secured a pay deal for junior doctors in England, resulting in a 22.3% increase over two years.
- Unsuccessful: BMA junior doctors strike in 2016 was unsuccessful despite insider status. 2024, the Labour government imposed a 20% tax on farms valued over £1 million.. The NFU strongly opposed these reforms, organizing protests and lobbying efforts. Despite these actions, the government maintained its position.
What are the successful and unsuccessful outsider groups?
- Successful: In 2019, XR organized large-scale protests in London. These actions significantly heightened public awareness and pressure on policymakers. The UK Parliament became the first in the world to declare a climate emergency, aligning with XR’s demand for governmental acknowledgement of the climate crisis.
- Unsuccessful: 2022: Activists threw tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting in the National Gallery-> this led to large amounts of public disapproval - UK gov did not change its stance on fossil fuel policies.
What are examples of petitions influencing policy?
- 2019: Friends of the Earth launched a petition calling for a ban on fracking in the UK - received over 200,000 signatures and was instrumental in pushing the government to impose a moratorium on fracking in England - in November 2019. Rashford launched a campaign to extend free school meals to children during the school holidays, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic - 1mill and the government eventually reversed its stance.
What are examples of pressure groups using social media to influence gov?
- BLM UK used platforms like Twitter and Instagram to share information about racial injustice and anti-Black racism.The UK government launched inquiries into racial disparities in policing, and multiple statues associated with racism were removed.
What are examples of Pressure groups Contributing to dep reports?
The NFU were key contributors to the Agriculture Bill (2020), which reshaped agricultural policy post-Brexit
What is an example of a private member’s bill?
- The Down Syndrome Bill (2022) - improve the lives of people with Down syndrome by placing a duty on public bodies to consider the needs of people with Down syndrome when developing and implementing public services
What are the for and agaisnt arguments for whether larger pressure groups are more successful?
-For: larger electoral effect due to larger membership which allows for more effective protests and research conducted. 2019 - NSPCC had a total income of £117.9 million
-Against: membership size cannot compensate for a lack of insider status. Smaller groups = more specialised. Howard League in 2019 only had 19 staff but was quoted by 500 media sources and regularly consulted by parliament. 2022 - Despite Amnesty’s campaigns on issues like the arms trade with countries with poor human rights, the UK has continued to approve arms sales to countries with poor human rights records.
What are the for and agaisnt arguments for whether wealthier pressure groups are more successful?
- For: can employ professional lobbyists and public relations, In 2019, the financial sector was reported to spend over £50 million per year on lobbying. This enabled them to play a key role in influencing policies, particularly in relation to post-Brexit regulations and financial market rules. A report by Corporate Watch indicated Shell has been successful in watering down climate change policies over the years, using their vast financial resources to exert influence over political decision-makers and public opinion.
- Against: wealth matters less as technology and social media have made it easier to express their opinion. The GMB Union, despite being much smaller than some of the wealthy corporate-backed unions, managed to secure the government’s pledge to legislate against fire and rehire tactics. 2019 - BJ announced at the CBI conference that he was shelving a corporation tax cut from 19% - 17% as he felt it would be bad for public opinion.
What are the for and agaisnt arguments for whether pressure groups with more public support are more successful?
- For: more public support = more government support as more electoral impact. 2020 - Rashford wrote an open letter on Twitter to the PM asking for free school meals during school holidays during the coronavirus - Pm took a U-turn on policy
-Against: Public support doesn’t always = political influence, BMA has widespread support but lost its 2016 battle with the government over junior doctor contracts. Think tanks and corporations don’t rely on junior doctors.
What are the for and agaisnt arguments for think tanks?
- For: some are politically impartial - more of an positive effect on policy: The IFS played a key role in informing debates around the Universal Credit system. They provided comprehensive data and analysis on its potential impacts on low-income
- Against: push policy and evidence that favour corporate interests and lack transparency - The IEA has faced criticism for its lack of transparency regarding funding sources due to the potential influence of donors from industries like oil, tobacco, and fossil fuels, which may have an interest in shaping its policy proposals. 2019 - Reclaim charity - working class are either missing or hidden from most influential think tanks
What are the for and agaisnt arguments for corporations?
- For: Corporations play a crucial role in the economy so important for them to present, have expertise.
-Against: Corporations have a large amount of influence and can be over-represented in discussions and lobbying - politics is not a level playing field. Many large corporations like Amazon and Google, lobbied the UK government for these corporate tax cuts in 2017: tax cuts disproportionately benefit large corporations and contribute to rising inequality.
How does parliament protecting rights through Human Rights Act 1998?
- For: Judges must read give effect to other laws in a way which compatible with HRA, it’s unlawful for public authority to act against HRA
- Agaisnt: not entrenched and in theory could be scrapped, courts are not bound and can go against a ruling. The case involving Shamima Begum was raised under the right to a fair hearing. The SC ruled that the UK government could prevent Begum from returning to the UK, arguing that national security concerns outweighed her human rights.
How does parliament protect rights through the freedom of Information act?
Freedom of Information Act (2000): allows citizens to access any non-security-related information held by public institutions. However, there are some exemptions at the discretion of the Secretary of State and administrative strain. MP’s expense scandal - a major political scandal - allowed for the disclosure of misuse of the allowances and expenses permitted to MPs causing widespread anger among the public and resulting in a large number of resignations
What are examples of pressure groups challenging policy?
Liberty has campaigned against the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (also known as the Snooper’s Charter), which allows government agencies to collect data on individuals’ communications and activities
What did the British Social Attitudes Survey (2024) reveal?
This survey revealed that 58% of respondents would “almost never” trust politicians to tell the truth, a level comparable to the aftermath of the 2009 MPs’ expenses scandal
What was the 2017, social media campaign that encouraged support for labour?
2017, over 70% of 18-24-year-olds, #ForTheManyNotTheFew - became a central theme of both the Labour Party and Momentum’s messaging in the 2017 campaign. The hashtag was used across social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to promote Labour’s policies that focused on social justice, economic inequality, and public service investment - demonstrating that a significant portion of young people were willing to engage in the political process, both through voting and active participation.
What are some examples of party membership?
-As of February 2025, the Labour Party’s membership currently stands at approximately 309,000.
-As of November 2024, the Conservative Party reported a membership of 131,680 individuals.
What are some examples of pressure groups using civil disobedience, violent protests, or direct action?
- October 2022, Just Stop Oil activists threw tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ painting at the National Gallery in London. This was one of the most widely reported and controversial acts of direct action.
-November 2021, Just Stop Oil activists participated in a series of road blockades on the M25, one of the UK’s busiest motorways. This was a large-scale action aimed at disrupting transportation and raising awareness about the government’s continued support for fossil fuels.
What are examples of pressure groups using the judiciary?
UK government proposed the third runway at Heathrow Airport, which would significantly expand the airport and increase aviation emissions -> In 2020, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of Friends of the Earth, finding that the government’s approval of the Heathrow expansion was unlawful due to failure to consider climate commitments
What is an example that pressure groups are not always transparent.
The BMA often lobbies against policy changes that might improve efficiency or patient outcomes in the NHS, such as proposals to reduce bureaucracy or introduce privatization elements -> The BMA’s lobbying efforts can be opaque, and members of the public or patients may not always be aware of what specific policies the group is pushing for or against.
What are some examples wealthy pressure groups having larger voice?
CBI (Confederation of British Industry) – Represents big businesses and has significant lobbying power, often securing policies that favour corporate interests over public needs. Powerful groups with strong government connections can influence policy behind the scenes, creating a “revolving door” where former politicians become lobbyists for big corporations.
