Democracy and Participation Flashcards
Democratic Deficit
A perceived deficiency in the way a democratic body work
Many think that the UK has a PARTICIPATION CRISIS as it has low turnout e.g. 35.6% in the 2014 EU elections, and an average of 33.8% in the 2016 May local elections
Suffrage
The right to vote in PUBLIC elections
The 1928 REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT gave all women over 21 the right to vote
The 1969 REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT lowered the voting age to 18
The ELECTORAL REFORM SOCIETY supports the Votes at 16 Coalition
Think-tanks
Think-tanks are bodies of experts who seek to resolve specific issues e.g. THE LEGATUM INSTITUTE which supported Brexit and removing tariffs
THE ADAM SMITH INSITUTE is a right wing think-tank, and THE FABIAN SOCIETY is a left-wing think-tank
Lobbyists
Lobbyists such as HANBURY STRATEGY are paid by clients to influence the government
Types of Pressure Groups (x3)
- SECTIONAL: Represent a certain group of people e.g. The National Education Union
- CAUSE: Seek to achieve a certain goal that will benefit the whole of society e.g. Friends of the Earth
- SOCIAL MOVEMENT: Focus on a range of goals in one area e.g. Camps for Climate Action
Insider and Outsider Pressure Groups
Insider pressure groups such as the BMA and THE TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE get to consult with decision-makers on a regular basis
Outsider pressure groups such as EXTINCTION REBELLION do NOT get to consult with decision-makers on a regular basis
Factors which Determine the Success of Pressure Groups (x4)
RESOURCES helped FRIENDS OF ISRAEL
IDEOLOGICAL COMPATIBILITY helped MIGRATION WATCH UK influence a Conservative government
POPULARITY helped the GURKHA JUSTICE CAMPAIGN to get GORDON BROWN to change policy
EXPERTISE helped the BMA to get smoking in cars with children banned in the 2014 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BILL
PRESSURE GROUP TACTICS (x5)
E-PETITIONS let the HILLSBOROUGH JUSTICE CAMPAIGN to reopen their court case
PROTESTS were used by Extinction Rebellion
STRIKES were used by the NUT
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE was used by Extinction Rebellion and BLM
LEGAL cases such as when the COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE challenged a FOX-HUNTING ban in the High Court
Mandates
A mandate is the authority to make decisions and enact policy
The 2015 Belfast South MP only had 24.5% of the vote, so has a very weak mandate
FOR the Existence of a Democratic Deficit (x4)
The House of Lords is UNELECTED
The UK has a PARTICIPATION CRISIS (2014 EU election has turnout of 35.6% and 2016 May local elections had an average of 33.8%)
FPTP means that MPs and governments can be elected with pluralities, e.g. 2019 Conservative government had 43.6% of the vote, and 2015 Belfast South MP had 24.5%
Lack of DESCRIPTIVE REPRESENTATION as 1/3 of MPs are privately educated, yet 93% of UK schoolchildren attend state schools
Participation Crisis
A SEVERE LACK OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE POLITICAL SYSTEM
Only 1.6% of the electorate belong to one of the 3 main UK parties, but in 1983 the figure was 3.8%
The 2014 EU parliament elections had a turnout of 35.6% and the 2016 May Local elections had an average turnout of 33.8%
AGAINST a Democratic Deficit (x5)
Membership of pressure groups such as BLM and XR have increased in recent years
Local and EU elections have low turnout as they are less important to votes. The 2016 EU Referendum had a turnout of 72%
An elected House of Lords would LACK EXPERTISE and cause GRIDLOCK as it would have the same MANDATE as the Commons
In the 2011 AV Referendum, 67.9% voted against AV, suggesting that voters are content with FPTP
SUBSTANTIVE REPRESENTATION is more important than DESCRIPTIVE
Reforming First Past the Post (x5)
Elections could be spread over multiple days
COMPULSORY VOTING, such as in Australia where 91.9% voted in the 2019 federal elections
Lower the voting age to 16. In the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum 80% of 16-17 year olds voted
A PROPORTIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE system may be more representative (though 67.9% voted NO in the 2011 AV referendum)
E-VOTING could increase turnout, though there re SECURITY RISKS
Legitimacy
Legitimacy is the legal right to exercise power
Many people believe that, as the House of Lords is unelected, it lacks legitimacy
Direct Democracy
When individuals express their opinions themselves, NOT THROUGH REPRESENTATIVES e.g. a REFERENDUM or RECALLING AN MP
Examples of Referendums (x3)
2011 AV Referendum
2014 Scottish Independence Referendum
2016 EU Membership Referendum
2016 Referendum Costs
The Cabinet Office estimated that the total cost of the 2016 EU Referendum was £142.2m
Recalling an MP
Under the 2015 Recall of MPs Act, if 10% of eligible voters of a constituency signa petition, a BY-ELECTION is called E.G. In 2019, PETERBOROUGH recalled FIONA ONASANYA after she was charged with PERJURY
Advantages of Direct Democracy (x4)
Equal weight to all votes
Encourages participation
Encourages people to educate themselves and debate
Removes the need for and costs of representatives
Disadvantages of Direct Democracy (x5)
Impractical and COSTLY (The 2016 EU Referendum cost £142.2m)
Unqualified people making important decisions
Open to manipulation by DEMAGOGUES
No representation for minority viewpoints
No-one to hold ACCOUNTABLE
Representative Democracy
A form of democracy in which individuals select people to act on their behalf
The Burkean Model
Edmund Burke thought that MPs should be TRUSTEES not delegates
Thus MPs should get to use their own judgement rather than give the exact stance of their constituency
Substantive Representation
When representative advocate on behalf of certain groups
A key example includes when DAVID CAMERON pushed through legislation to legalise gay marriage in the UK in 2014
Descriptive Representation
The notion that a group elects an individual to represent them who share characteristics which might result in them having a similar world experience
An example of this would be a women voting for women MPs or Muslims voting for Muslim MPs
Advantages of Representative Democracy (x4)
Practical as it allows individuals to go about their normal lives
Reduces the chance of Alexis De Tocqueville’s ‘TYRANNY OF THE MAJORITY’
Provides ACCOUNTABLE representatives
Election experts to make informed decisions
Disadvantages of Representative Democracy (x3)
Participation may be low e.g. 2014 EU Elections had 35.6% turnout, and 2016 May local elections had an average of 33.8%
Representatives and politicians could be more interested in pursuing their own agendas and interests, rather than their constituent’s interests
Representative democracy may lack DESCRIPTIVE REPRESENTATION as 1/3 of MPs are privately educated, but only 7% of the UK is
The Human Rights Act
Passed in 1998 under Tony Blair
Incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law
The HRA exists as STATUTE LAW, so could be overturned with a majority
Examples of Effects of the HRA (x2)
The HRA allowed lawyers to delay the deportation of ABU QATADA, a potential terrorist, as evidence used against him was gained through torture
Families of victims of the Hillsborough Disaster used the HRA to an in-depth inquiry into the deaths
Declarations of Incompatibility
The Supreme Court can use JUDICIAL REVIEW to make a ‘declaration of incompatibility’ if they believe that Parliament is passing a law which violates human rights
Whilst it heavily pressures the government to strike down the law, it cannot actually force them, as this would interfere with PARLIAMENTARY SOVEREIGNTY
Parliamentary Sovereignty
The ability for Parliament to create and uncreate ALL LAWS OF THE LAND
The Equality Act
The 2010 Equality Act was passed under a Conservative government and outlawed public bodies discriminating against people on the grounds of their identity
The Magna Carta
Signed in 1215 by King John and it established the right to TRIAL BY JURY and HABEAS CORPUS
