Democracy and Participation

Question 1

What is a direct democracy?

Answer 1

• A system based on direct, unmediated and continuous participation of citizens in the government. An example of such is the use of referendums as a direct vote on a single issue

Question 2

What is a representative democracy?

Answer 2

• A system of indirect democracy whereby elected individuals govern on behalf of citizens

Question 3

What are the key milestones in widening the franchise?

Answer 3

• Great Reform Act of 1832 - created new constituencies for urban areas such as Manchester and abolished ‘rotten boroughs’
• Representation of People Act of 1918 - gave all men over the age of 21 the vote and granted the vote to women over the age of 30 who met property qualifications
• Equal Franchise Act of 1928 - granted universal suffrage to both men and women over the age of 21
• Representation of People Act of 1969 - lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

Question 4

Arguments for extending suffrage to 16 year olds

Answer 4

• Currently there is a perpetual cycle of younger voters failing to vote and thus politicians failing to respond to their concerns as they will not be held accountable at election time. Polly Toynbee of the Guardian noted that in the coalitions first round of spending cuts, the average voter lost 12% whilst the average non voter lost 20%
• Jim McMahon, Labour MP for Oldham West and Stoyton, calls not only for the voting age to be lowered but for political education to be taught in schools.
• A person who votes in one election has a 13% greater probability of voting in future elections.
• 75% of 16 year olds voting in the Scottish Referendum of 2014. However voter turnout was turnout was exceptionally high among all age groups and so isn’t the best example

Question 5

Arguments against extending suffrage to 16 year olds

Answer 5

• Vast majority of under 18s still live at home and would be influenced by the voting behaviour of their parents
• Sceptics believe that the Conservative position for continuing the 18 years of age is due to fear that not enough younger voters would vote for Conservative. 2017 General Election, 19% of 18-19 voted C whilst 66% voted L
• Austria is the only EU country where 16 year olds can vote
• Although being part of Labour party policy since 2013, many have accused the party of ‘gerrymandering’ because they are suggesting a significant change to all 650 constituenties

Question 6

Types of pressure groups (Sectional/Cause/Social Movements)

Answer 6

• Sectional groups. Seek to promote the interests of an occupation or another group in society, an example of such are trade unions
• Cause groups. Focused on achieving a particular goal or drawing attention to a single issue, an example of such being Greenpeace in regard to environmental concerns
• Social movements. Similar in objectives to cause groups but are more loosely structured and tend to be more politically radical, an example of such being the Camps for Climate Change between 2006 and 2010 protesting against the expansion of Heathrow Airport

Question 7

Types of pressure groups (Insider/Outsider)

Answer 7

• Coined by Wyn Grant of Warwick University
• Insider Groups tend to rely on contact with ministers and civil servants to achieve their aims. They tend to have objectives that are broadly in line with the views of the government, increasing their leverage. Low profile groups such as the Howard League for Penal Reform rely on discreet behind the scenes contact rather than seeking publicity. High profile groups such as the Confederation of British Industry supplement their lobbying with the use of media to make their case
• Outsider groups typically have objectives that are outside the political mainstream so the government is unlikely to enter dialogue with them. An example of such are animal rights protestor who try to intimidate animal testing laboratories into ceasing their work.
  Alternatively, outsider groups may wish to preserve its independence and reputation for ideological purity. An example of such being the ‘Occupy’ movement of 2011 which sees government as being closely aligned to the global capitalist movement against which they were protesting.