Democracy And Participation- An Overall Assessment Of Democracy In The UK Flashcards
Democratic deficit
Where standards of a functioning democracy have fallen short
Features of UK democracy
Pluralism: power lies in many different places (judges, Parliament, PM, etc)
Free and fair elections
Corruption and wrongdoing are punished
Citizens’ rights are protected
Devolved decision making
How this feature works in practise in the UK:
Pluralism: power lies in many different places (judges, Parliament, PM, etc)
+ The 2017 Article 50 decision on Britain leaving the EU involved a number of institutions, not just the prime minister. Parliament voted on it, judges ruled on it and the people expressed their opinion in a referendum.
How this feature works in practise in the UK:
Free and fair elections
+ All adults can vote, and the results are trusted and accepted.
How this feature works in practise in the UK:
Corruption and wrongdoing are punished
+ In 2019 two MPS, Fiona Onasanya and Chris Davies, were successfully recalled (see section on the recall of MPs on p. 83).
How this feature works in practise in the UK:
Citizens’ rights are protected
+ The Human Rights Act allows citizens to use UK courts to protect their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
How this feature works in practise in the UK:
Devolved decision making
+ Devolution has resulted in the transfer of power from central government to regional and local bodies, such as the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments.
Problem/barriers preventing this feature from working effectively
Pluralism: power lies in many different places (judges, Parliament, prime minister etc.).
+ Others argue that power is instead concentrated in the hands of a few people and organisations.
+ The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has been accused of using cash to gain influence over ministers.
Problem/barriers preventing this feature from working effectively
Free and fair elections
+16- and 17-year-olds and prisoners cannot vote in general elections.
+ The first-past-the-post electoral
system is unfair and leads to ‘elected dictatorship’ (Lord Hailsham).
Problem/barriers preventing this feature from working effectively
Corruption and wrongdoing are punished.
+ There is a perception of corruption among some representatives (cash for peerages affair and the MPs’ expenses scandal).
+ In 2020 Boris Johnson failed to explain the £15,000 holiday he received from Carphone Warehouse tycoon David Ross.
Problem/barriers preventing this feature from working effectively
Citizens’ rights are protected.
+ The Human Rights Act is not entrenched (see Chapter 5), which means that it could be scrapped with an act of parliament.
Problem/barriers preventing this feature from working effectively
Devolved decision making
+ Devolution is still limited.
+ Some 85% of local council budgets in England still comes from central government.
