Democracy and Participation Flashcards
What are 3 advantages of direct democracy
Public given direct control on policy
Helps educate public on important political topics
Provides check on government power
Ensures changes have legitimacy
What are 3 disadvantages of direct democracy
Parliamentary sovereignty is undermined
Governments can absolve themselves of responsibility
Referendums only provide a snapshot of public opinion
Give 4 positive aspects of the UK democracy
Turnout has steadily increases from 59% in 2001 to 69% in 2017
UK has 7 political parties and more have seats in parliament
Parliamentary sovereignty means that through the House of Commons consent from the people is indirectly given to every law
Devolution has allowed better quality representation - also in regions - Manchester has elected mayor
Give 4 negative aspects of the UK democracy
There remain unelected elements of the UK’s political system - 92 hereditary peers in House of Lords
Turnout has reached historical lows - dropped below 70% in 2001 and remained under since
Voting system has created a two party system with minor parties underrepresented - Reform secured 14.3% of vote but only got 5 seats
Lack of entrenched rights - HRA is statute law
Give 3 strategies to make UK more democratic
House of Lords reform - 92 hereditary peers remain after House of Lords previous reforms under Blair - as Starmer wants - abolishment would be democratic
Reform of Undemocratic appointments in commons - Truss became PM with 0.17% of electorate, Sunak with no vote
Electoral reform - using PR voting systems
Compulsory voting - as used in Australia with turnout of 90% ever since
Name 4 events that gave suffrage
Great Reform Act 1832 - 5.6% of population can vote (only men)
Rep of people Act 1918 - Men over 21 can vote and women over 30
Rep of people Act 1928 - Women and men have equal votes - all over 21 vote
Rep of people Act 1969 - voting age now 18
Give 4 reasons for participation being healthy in the UK
Election turnouts have increased since 2001 - from 59% to 69%
Party membership was high - since 2015 GE Labour membership has grown heavily - reached 530,000
Referendums on key issues have high turnout - 85% for Scotland, 72% for Brexit
More parties - UK has 11 parties - showing range of manifestos
Membership of Pressure Groups increased - public finding ways to participate politically - nature of participation has changed - National trust has over 5.6 million members
Give 4 reasons for participation being unhealthy in the UK
Slacktivism - people posting on social media has become common but is not political participation
Referendum turnouts can be low - AV - 42%
Election turnout are low - went below 70% in 2001 and remained below since
Decline in party membership - less than 1% of population are members, Tories have only 124k members
Trade unions lose power - leaves groups with weaker voices - RMT trade union always on strike due to this
Give two reasons for the participation crisis in the UK
Partisan and class dealignment as parties converge to the centre
Disillusionment with politicians due to scandals - EG: Boris Johnson’s partygate scandal
