Democracy and Participation Definitions Flashcards
Representative democracy
A representative democracy, is a limited and indirect form of democracy, it operates through the ability of representatives to speak for, or act on behalf of the people. - In practice, representatives are chosen and removed through regular and popular elections.
Direct democracy
A direct democracy, is a radical and most pure form of democracy, in which the citizenry make decisions through direct, immediate, and continuous popular participation. There is no formal distinction between the people and the government for they are in practice one and the same.
Legitimacy
The rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria (or) widely-held agreements, such as a government’s right to rule
following an election or a monarch’s succession based on the agreed
rules.
Pluralist democracy
A flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by
people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with
sufficient democratic input or subject to accountability.
Democratic deficit
A flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by
people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with
sufficient democratic input or subject to accountability.
Participation crisis
A lack of engagement by a significant number of citizens to relate to the political process either by choosing not to vote or to join or
become members of political parties or to offer themselves for public
office.
Franchise/suffrage
Franchise and suffrage both refer to the ability/right to vote in public elections. Suffragettes were women campaigning for the right to
vote on the same terms as men.
Pressure groups
A pressure group is an organisation with shared aims which seeks to influence policy through political means, without seeking political office itself.
Think tanks
A body of experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain topic(s) – to investigate and offer solutions to often complicated and
seemingly intractable economic, social or political issues.
Lobbyists
A lobbyist is paid by clients to try to influence the government
and/or MPs and members of the House of Lords to act in their
clients’ interests, particularly when legislation is under consideration.
Civil Liberties
The rights and freedoms that are recognised within a particular country and protect the individual from the state.
Individual rights
Rights held by all people as individuals
Collective rights
Rights held by a group as a whole
