Democracy And Participation Flashcards
Democracy
-a form of government in which power is held by the people
-the power is usually exercised on behalf of the people by their elected representatives
Direct Democracy
-where citizens are directly involved in the decision making process
-it is impractical to organise mass meetings in a democracy where there are millions are voters
-although there are occasional referendums are held in the UK in order to answer major political questions
Representative democracy
-where the people transfer the power to make decisions to elected representative
-for the most part Britain functions as a representative democracy
Parliamentary Democracy
-a democracy where the government is not directly elected
-but it’s drawn from the elected representatives in Parliament
Liberal Democracy
-a form of democracy where there are limited on government power
-the vote is widely held
-there are entrenched rights to protect individual freedoms
What are the strengths of direct democracy?
-most genuine forms of democracy as people give their view on every political issue
-no need for elective representatives
-system promotes a high level of political education, engagement and participation
-people seriously consider political issues and take responsibility for their decisions as there aren’t elected representatives to blame
-prevents power from being concentrated in the hands of a small political elite
What are the weaknesses of a direct democracy?
-modern populations means its expensive and impractical
-many members of the public may not have the time, interest or inclination to be politically engaged
-the wealthy in society can distort the referendum process through manipulation of the media or corruption
-public might be unwilling to vote for unpopular but necessary decisions
-biggest groups in society will always get their way (‘tyranny of the majority’)
What are the strengths of representative democracy?
-more practical to allow elected representatives to make political decisions
-MPs develop great expertise (enables them to carefully consider complex decisions)
-experience politicians more likely to implement unpopular but necessary decisions
-representatives likely to represent voters because they know they will be held accountable at the next election
-MPs seek to represent the needs of all constituents
What are the weaknesses of a representative democracy?
-representatives don’t always respond to the view of voters
-parties have a big influence over the actions of MPs at the expense of the view of voters
-public become more disengaged with politics between elections due to a lack of opportunities for meaningful participation (leaves power in the hands of a small political elite)
-UKs FPTP system makes it hard for smaller groups to win (means views of many are completely unrepresented)
-UKIP won 12% of votes in 2015 but just 1 seat
Give examples of recent referendums
2011: AV referendum 32% voted ‘yes’ and 68% voted ‘no’
2014: Scottish Indy Referendum 45% voted ‘yes’ and 55% voted ‘no’
2016: EU referendum 48% voted ‘remain’ and 53% voted ‘leave’
What does the government decide in a referendum?
The threshold for success (1979 Scottish Parliament referendum required 40% of total electorate to vote ‘Yes’)
The question (1997 Scottish Parliament referendum divided the referendum into 2 questions: Should there be a Scottish Parliament? Should it have tax-raising powers?)
How does representative democracy work in a general election?
-UK divided in roughly 650 constituencies (roughly of equal size)
-each constituencies elects a single MP who represents them
How representative democracy seen in a party manifesto?
-voters read manifestos and vote for the party whose policies they support
-the party that wins claims mandate (means the authority to implement the policies outlined in their manifesto)
How is representative democracy seen in government?
-formed by the party that wins a majority (usually)
-leader of the party becomes PM (2019 Conservatives won 365 seats)
Hung Parliament
-when no party wins a majority
-a coalition or minority government may be formed
How many people are enfranchised in the UK?
71.5%
Great Reform Act 1832
-1 in 5 male adults could now vote
-comprised 5.6% of adult male population
-enfranchised middle class males
-abolished ‘rotten boroughs’ such as Old Sarum
-were constituencies that had almost no voters but dutifully elected 2 MPs every election
Second Reform Act 1867
-allowed many working class men in cities to vote
-doubled the size of the electorate
-roughly 1/3 of men could now vote
Third Reform Act 1884
-established a uniform franchise across the country for men
-all working men who met property qualifications could now vote
-40% of adult men were still excluded
Representation of the people Act 1918
-all men over the age of 21 (or 19 for veterans) could vote
-women over 30 who met the property qualifications could now vote
Representation of people act 1928
-women finally received the vote on equal terms to men
-all men and women over 21 could now vote
-property qualifications were removed
Representation of the people act 1969
-lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
What was the chartist movement?
-first mass movement driven by the working classes
-grew following the failure of the 1832 Reform Act to extent the vote beyond those owning property
What were the people’s charters 6 demands?
-all men to have the vote on equal
-secret ballot
-annual parliamentary elections
-constituencies of equal size
-MPs should be paid
-property qualifications for MPs abolished
What methods did the chartists use?
-mass petitions and provoked some civil unrest in the 1830s and 1840s
-Second Reform Act 1867 extended the franchise to skilled workers
-by 1918 5/6 of the demands had been achieved
Who were the suffragists?
-1866 first petition calling for women to have the right to vote presented in parliament
-NUWSS set up in 1987 led by Millicent Fawcett
-peaceful and legal
-by 1914 there were 100,000 members
Why were the suffragettes significant?
-formed in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters
-early membership was working class women (moved to upper and middle class women)
-methods were violent
-public opinion dimly against suffragettes
What evident is there that there is a participation crisis in the UK?
-poor turnout (2019: 67%, 2017: 69%, 2001: 51%)
-differential turnout: 2016 turnout in Glasgow (north-east) was 59% the lowest in the country
-turnout among 18-24 year olds 54%
-partisan dealignment: people no longer strongly identify with a party
-polls suggest only 35% feel strong support for a political party
What are the causes of low participation
-apathy
-hapathy (too content to vote)
-lack of time
-class dealignment
-FPTP
-lack of choice
-anti politics
Argument that there is a participation crisis?
-low turnout (recent election below 75% overage)
-question mandate: Conservatives only got 29% of the electorates vote in 2019
-differential turnout: young and working class less likely to vote
-dealing party membership
-political disengagement
Argument that there isn’t a participation crisis?
-increase turnout in recent elections (Scottish Indy 85% and Brexit was 75%)
-recent rise in party membership
-non electoral participation is strong: pressure groups (RSPB have more members than the three major parties combined)
-eDemocracies: e-petitions
What are the features of a liberal democracy?
-regular, free and fair elections with universal suffrage
-a constitution which lays out the power and functions of gov institutions, establishes clear limits clear limits on gov power, limiting rights belonging citizens
-separation of powers into executive, legislative and judicial branches
-checks and balances to limit the power of any branch of government
-rights of individuals entrenched in fundamental, higher law
-pluralism: many competing parties and pressure groups
-a free press than can scrutinise the government
Ways in which the UK can be viewed as a Liberal democracy
-all adults can elect representatives in free and fair national and local elections
-the governmnet depends on the support of the HoC for survival
-parliament scrutinises the government
-government are bound by the rule of law
-all laws must be compatible with the HRA
-independent judiciary
-wide range of political parties
-wide range of pressure groups
-a free press
Issues which cast doubt on the UK’s status as a liberal democracy
-low participation
-FPTP
-unelected HoL
-unelected Head of State
-elective dictatorship
-royal prerogative
-un entrenched rights
-Elitism: Jenrick scandal 2020
How paticipation and democracy be improved
-codifying the constitution
-reform of the monarchy
-reform of the Lords (currently contains 92 hereditary peers)
-greater use of direct democracy
-recall elections
-electoral reform (FPTP is flawed)
-reform the devolved system: 2004 referendum on a north-east devolved assembly (78% voted no)
Argument for prisoners voting
-the denial of the right to vote removes a sense of civic responsibility + making rehabilitation even harder
-there is no evident that the loss of the franchise acts as a deterrent
-the right to vote is fundamental and cannot be removed
-removal of the vote makes a prisoner a non-person and further alienate them from society
-in 2005 European Court of Human Rights ruled that the blanket ban on prisoners is a violation of the HRA
Arguments against prisoners voting
-those who commit a custodial crime against society should lose the right to have a say in how that society is run
-the threat of losing the right to vote prevents crime and enhances civic responsibility
-giving criminals the right to have a say in how laws are made would undermine the principle of justice
-prisoners are concentrated in certain constituencies where they are unlikely to remain once free so they should not be able to choose the representatives for those communities
Argument for the voting age being lowered to 16
-16 and 17 year olds voting in 2014 Indy Ref widely seen as a success
-would broaden franchise to a group who already have considerable rights and responsibilities
-pressure group Votes at 16 claims that lowering the voting age will ‘engage, empower and inspire’ 16 and 17 year olds
-there are many places around the world where 16 and 17 year olds can vote (like in Germany in state elections)
Argument for the voting age not being lowered
-most 16 and 17 year olds pay little or no tax
-has been suggested that young voters will be ill-informed and immature to be given the vote
-turnout among 18-24 year olds is already the lowest of any age group (would worsen the participation crisis)
-PMBs proposing the idea have failed to progress beyond the second reading
