Democracy and Participation

Question 1

Democratic Deficit

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Suffrage

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Think-tanks

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Lobbyists

Answer 4

Lobbyists such as HANBURY STRATEGY are paid by clients to influence the government

Question 5

Types of Pressure Groups (x3)

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Insider and Outsider Pressure Groups

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Factors which Determine the Success of Pressure Groups (x4)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

PRESSURE GROUP TACTICS (x5)

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Mandates

Answer 9

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

Question 10

FOR the Existence of a Democratic Deficit (x4)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Participation Crisis

Answer 11

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%

Question 12

AGAINST a Democratic Deficit (x5)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Reforming First Past the Post (x5)

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Legitimacy

Answer 14

Legitimacy is the legal right to exercise power

Many people believe that, as the House of Lords is unelected, it lacks legitimacy

Question 15

Direct Democracy

Answer 15

When individuals express their opinions themselves, NOT THROUGH REPRESENTATIVES e.g. a REFERENDUM or RECALLING AN MP

Question 16

Examples of Referendums (x3)

Answer 16

2011 AV Referendum

2014 Scottish Independence Referendum

2016 EU Membership Referendum

Question 17

2016 Referendum Costs

Answer 17

The Cabinet Office estimated that the total cost of the 2016 EU Referendum was £142.2m

Question 18

Recalling an MP

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Advantages of Direct Democracy (x4)

Answer 19

Equal weight to all votes

Encourages participation

Encourages people to educate themselves and debate

Removes the need for and costs of representatives

Question 20

Disadvantages of Direct Democracy (x5)

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Representative Democracy

Answer 21

A form of democracy in which individuals select people to act on their behalf

Question 22

The Burkean Model

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Substantive Representation

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Descriptive Representation

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Advantages of Representative Democracy (x4)

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Disadvantages of Representative Democracy (x3)

Answer 26

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

Question 27

The Human Rights Act

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Examples of Effects of the HRA (x2)

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Declarations of Incompatibility

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Parliamentary Sovereignty

Answer 30

The ability for Parliament to create and uncreate ALL LAWS OF THE LAND

Question 31

The Equality Act

Answer 31

The 2010 Equality Act was passed under a Conservative government and outlawed public bodies discriminating against people on the grounds of their identity

Question 32

The Magna Carta

Answer 32

Signed in 1215 by King John and it established the right to TRIAL BY JURY and HABEAS CORPUS