Democracy And Participation Flashcards
What is democracy?
Rule by the people
“Principle that all people and bodies including government must follow the law and can be held to account if they do not”
Key features of democracy?
Political equality Political participation Free, fair and regular elections Accountable government Pluralism Rule of law
What is constitutional government?
Divided government system to limit power of government
What is bicameralism ?
Two Houses of Parliament with different compositions to hold executive to account
Difference between power and authority?
Power is ability to make others do what one wants them to do
Authority is the right to exercise power
(If no authority then it’s just force)
3 authorities identified by Weber?
Traditional - queen
Legal rational - formal via election - PM
Charismatic- sheer personality
What does legitimate mean?
Most people accept governmental authority to make rules
Direct democracy definition?
People themselves make decisions that affect them
E.g Athenian democracy
Representative democracy definition
People vote to choose representatives who will represent their views
Advantages of direct democracy?
Genuine opinions
More socially aware public
Encourages participation
Removes power from ruling minority
Disadvantages of direct democracy?
Difficult/expensive
Public not guaranteed to be aware
Tyranny of the majority
Advantages of representative democracy?
More practical
Reps have greater expertise
Can implement unpopular but necessary policies
Avoids tyranny of majority
Disadvantages of representative democracy?
Reps may not represent exact views of the public
Public less involved
Hard for small parties to win
May vote the party line
What is sovereignty ?
Ultimate political power and source of all political authority
Examples of referendum
2002 Swiss vote on whether to join UN or not
55% yes 45% no
Examples of direct democracy?
Athenian democracy, ostracisation possible, at least 6000 needed to participate
USA in New England town hall meetings
What is Burkean representation?
MPs selected to use their own judgement to decide, may be different to constituents wishes
Evidence for low turnout
69% in GE 2017
Never fell below 71% from 1945 to 1997
69% low but still an increase since 2001 59%
Low turnout in wales?
36% in 2011 referendum about further devolution
Evidence for low membership
In 1980 4.1% of electorate were members of political party
In 2010 0.8%
Low digital democracy evidence?
6% people participate online
Reasons for participation crisis
Low turnout
Low membership
Partisan dealignment
Faith in politicians falling
Evidence against participation crisis
Not declined just changed forms
Cause group membership rising
Smaller party membership has risen
Evidence for participation changing forms
Political consumerism- supporting vegan products etc to participate
Demonstrations against war in Iraq 2003 involved estimated 4% of population
Cause group membership evidence?
RSPB in 2016
Over a million members, 200,000 youth members
Smaller party membership risen evidence
In 2014, UKIP 39,000
Subsidiarity definition
Decisions should be taken at the lowest level of government possible
Reasons for a democratic deficit
Lower turnouts
Lack of widespread referendums
House of Lords has undemocratic credential
Voting system disproportional
Deficit in political education
Financial backers e.g Lord ashcroft to parties have undue influence
Reasons against democratic deficit
Reforms like devolution
Reformation of second chamber underway
Wide pressure group membership
What is democratic deficit?
People in power lack legitimacy
Reasons for lowering voting age to 16
16 year olds already have many responsibilities
They are not apathetic - they just might show their views in different ways e.g social media
Political parties have to listen to young people more
Old/young divide statistic
2017
70% over seventies voted conservative
19% of 18-19 year olds
2014 Scottish referendum 16-17 year old statistic?
75% of them voted
54% of 18-24
72% of 25-34
Citizenship as a lesson statistic?
Only mandatory in NI and England and is minor part of curriculum
Reasons against voting age to be lowered to 16
Causes democratic deficit- more people vote who don’t know what they’re voting for
We should preserve childhood- not force kids to vote
Isn’t lack of representation- just deferred. 18 year olds still in touch with 16-17 year old issues
Two representation acts in early 20th century?
Representation of the people act 1918
Some women allowed to vote. Gave vote to all men
Representation of the people 1928
All women allowed to vote
What is a pressure group
Organised group that does not hold candidates for an election but seeks to influence government policy and legislation
What are sectional groups
Represent a particular section of society
What are cause groups
Based on shared attitudes or values, advance particular ideals or principles
Insider v outside groups?
Insider operate within the political system. Regularly consulted by government
Outsider has no link with government but tries to influence public opinion
Three types of insider?
Core insider
Peripheral insider
Specialist insider
3 types outsider groups
Potential insider
Outsider by necessity
Ideological outsiders - avoid connection as they wish to not be biased
Methods for pressure groups?
Influence policy by lobbying
Provide evidence to government
Raise public awareness
Pursue legal rights of members e.g stonewall
Examples of pressure groups
BMA - core insider
Greenpeace
ASH
RSPCA
Stonewall
Who is leader of unite?
Len Mclusky
What is unite?
British and Irish trade union
Examples of campaigns unite has done?
Support Palestinian state
Organising BA strike 2017
Membership fact of unite?
Larger membership than all parties put together
Controversy surrounding unite leadership ?
Mcclusky continues to act as general secretary even after he stepped down officially.
What is ASI?
Neoliberal think tank. “On the edge of lunacy but on the edge of policy”
Three policy priorities?
Basic income
Simpler taxes
More freedom in planning permission for housing
How are ASI very influential?
200/624 policies of their Omega Project have been implemented
Privatisation of British rail in 1997
Reduced top rate of tax 60% -> 40%
In 1988
How have ASI maybe not been so successful?
Not much influence under Cameron
Not just one think tank consulted before policy changes
Gov committed to these sorts of policies anyway
How do ASI undermine democracy?
Unelected leaders
Lack of transparency
Corruption
Evidence for PG promoting democracy?
Pluralism- countervailing ASH and FOREST, lots of PG involved in EU referendum
Protects minority interest- Muslim Public Affairs Committee
Education- BMA publish reports educate people
2012 suggestion of opt out organ donating
Snowdrop forced government to ban all handguns after Dunblane massacre
Stats for pressure groups
18,000 2008
To
55,000 2010
Taxpayers alliance
Countryside Alliance 100,000 members
BMA 150,000 members, maybe overrepresented?
Pressure groups against democracy?
“Serpents that strangle efficient government” Douglas Hurd - national farmers union
Over represent? BMA
Mislead- Migration Watch views on net economic benefit of migration
National Trust large chequebook membership
What did HRA 1998 do?
Shifted from residual freedoms to positive rights (what u can do, not what u can’t)
What did Equality Act 2010 do?
Made it illegal to discriminate on SCRAGED factors
What did Magna Carta do?
1215 Established right to trail by jury and for a court order to be necessary
Example of human rights making a impact?
2005 Blair Gov tried to extend period a suspect could be held without charge to 90 days. Commons defeated it, said 28.
Coalition changed to 14.
Bad effect HRA has had on judiciary system
160 judicial review applications 1975
Now 15,000 in 2013
What rights are there in the UK?
Expression, conscience, vote, movement, treatment under law
Max Mosley business?
2008 High Court awarded ex-motorsports boss £60,000 compensation for News of the world invading his right to privacy by reporting about his sex life
But in 2011 lost the ECHR bid to force newspapers to warn people before exposing their private lives
