Democracy and participation FINAL FLASHCARDS

Question 1

What is democracy

Answer 1

democracy refers to a society where people have influence over the political decisions that will affect them, either directly or through representatives (MP’s)

Question 2

What is representative democracy

Answer 2

A form of democracy in which voters elect representatives to make political decisions on their behalf. These representatives are then held accountable to the public in regular elections.

This means that the voters retain sovereignty because they decide whether or not to renew the mandate of their representatives.

Question 3

Advantages of representative democracy

Answer 3

Representatives may have expert knowledge and experience which the general public don’t possess - when a parliamentary bill gets passed it gets debated in both HOC and HOL and further analysed in the committee stage

Representatives are likely to be more rational and less swayed by emotional appeals

Representatives are democratically accountable and therefore should behave in a responsible way - voters gets to decide whether to renew the mandate of their representatives. If the public don’t approve of the policies or the performance of the government, they can elect another one.

Question 4

Disadvantages of representative democracy

Answer 4

MP’s represent the elite that doesnt represent te more traditional values of the population. This means that MP’s can disengage from the public and so not represent their interets. e.g. 2016 EU membership referedum 52% of the public voted to leave however 74% of the MP’s had been in favour of remain.

MP’s can have outside interests including second jobs and possibly compromising the ability to represent thier constituents. 2021 - Sir Geoffrey Cox, was criticised for earning £900,000 for legal work he took in addition to his MP salary.

The West-Minister Parliament is highly unrepresentative because it is elected through first past the post. As a result, the Conservative and Labour dominate the HOC at the expense of smaller parties such as the Lib Dems or Greens -2015 UKIP recieved 4million votes but only recieved 1 seat.

Question 5

How unrepresentative is West Minister Parliament

Answer 5

West Minister Parliament is socially exclusive and therefore unrepresentative of the interests of contemporary society.

Although in the 2019 election did elect the most diverse House of Commons ever. men and those who were privately educated are still over represented in West-minister e.g. 10% in West minister minority ethnic groups compared with 14% nationally and 29% of West Minister privately educated whereas 7% of the population are privately educated.

UK representative democracy is least likely to engage the poorest and the most marginalised in society. 2018, The Hansard Society estimated that 83% of higher (A/B)social groups were prepared to participate in politics compared with 41% of less prosperous (D/E). Only 2% of homeless people were registered to vote in 2018.

Question 6

What is direct democracy

Answer 6

a form of democracy in which the citizens themselves rather than their representatives make political decisions

e.g. through referendums

Question 7

Why are referendums used?

Answer 7

Referendums enable the public to directly express their views on single issues.

Question 8

Why are electronic petitions used

Answer 8

If a petition on the government website reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate either in Westminster Hall or the chamber of the House of Commons

This does not mean that legislation will have to be forthcoming.

Question 8

When are referendums used

Answer 8

To decide on a policy proposal often of constitutional significance.

In 2014, the Scottish independence referendum: 55.3% voted in favour of Scotland remaining in the UK and 44.7% voted in favour of independence.

In the EU referendum in 2016, 52% voted in favour of leaving the EU and 48% voted in favour of remaining

Question 8

Advantages of referendums

Answer 8

Referendums provide the public with a direct choice can help to settle controversial issues e.g. Brexit

Since the public have voted directly, the result can claim greater legitimacy than a decision reached by their representatives e.g. 52% of the public voted for leave whereas 74% of MP’s favoured remain.

Question 9

Disadvantages of referendums

Answer 9

Referendums require a detailed understanding of issues, which the public may lack e.g. Cummings wanted to capitalise on concerns of the NHS. Cummings knew that the NHS was something that the public cared about deeply ‘We send the EU £350 million a week, let’s fund our NHS instead”. Some Conservatives said that this money would be directly funded to the NHS. It never was.

The ongoing debate over Scottish independence and the UK’s relationship with the EU also suggests that referendums do not conclusively resolve contentious issues. Because 62% of Scottish people voted remain, Scottish people want independence as they claim that its not fair. They didn’t choose to leave.

Question 10

When are electronic petitions used

Answer 10

If a petition on the government website reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate either in Westminster Hall or the chamber of the House of Commons. This does not mean that legislation will have to be forthcoming.

In 2021 - making it a legal requirement for night clubs to search guests on entry were raised by e-petitions

Question 11

Disadvantages of electronic petitions

Answer 11

However, e-petitions can also raise false expectations and consume parliamentary time.

There are issues on which Parliament cannot legislate (an e-petition to revoke Sir Tony Blair’s knighthood gained more than 1 million signatures but was rejected because knighthoods are bestowed by the monarch) or will not legislate (a petition demanding Article 50 be revoked so that the UK would remain in the EU gained 6.1 million signatures in 2019). The publicity e-petitions generate is nonetheless important in informing and progressing public debate

Question 11

Advantages of electronic petitions

Answer 11

In 2020, England footballer Marcus Rashford’s #EndChildFoodPoverty gained over 1.1 million signatures, generating huge public enthusiasm and persuading the government to commit to free school meals for low-income families during school holidays

Question 12

Why are open primaries used

Answer 12

In open primaries, the public directly decide who the candidate should be.

Question 13

Advantages of open primaries

Answer 13

If the public have direct influence over who the candidates for political office will be, people less closely affiliated with political parties are more likely to enter politics. Whether or not this is a positive development divides opinion.

Sarah Wollaston was the first Conservative parliamentary candidate to be selected in this way in 2009. As a Conservative MP she proved very independent-minded and eventually abandoned the party to join the Liberal Democrats

Question 14

When are open primaries used

Answer 14

David Cameron encouraged open primaries to open up politics.

Thirteen Conservative candidates were selected in this way for the 2015 general election.

However, for the 2019 general election the Conservatives selected only one of their candidates through an open primary

Question 15

Disadvantages of open primaries

Answer 15

If the public have direct influence over who the candidates for political office will be, people less closely affiliated with political parties are more likely to enter politics. Whether or not this is a positive development divides opinion.

Sarah Wollaston was the first Conservative parliamentary candidate to be selected in this way in 2009. As a Conservative MP she proved very independent-minded and eventually abandoned the party to join the Liberal Democrats

Question 16

Why are Election of the leadership of political parties used

Answer 16

All the main political parties now allow their members to decide who the leader of their party will be. This is a significant power since it may determine who the prime minister will be.

Question 17

When are Election of the leadership of political parties used

Answer 17

In 2022, Liz Truss defeated Rishi Sunak for the leadership of the Conservative Party by 57% to 43%.

In 2020, Sir Keir Starmer was elected leader of the Labour Party with 56% of the vote of party members

Question 17

What are the advantages of Election of the leadership of political parties

Answer 17

Supporters argue that this makes the leadership accountable to the whole party. This is an especially powerful argument in the Labour Party, which sees itself both as a political party and as a popular movement. Critics claim it gives too much influence to party activists, who are generally more radical than the electorate.

For example, Labour Party members re-elected Jeremy Corbyn as leader in 2016 by 61.8% even though Labour MPs had previously passed a vote of no confidence in him by a staggering 172/40 votes.

Question 18

What are the disadvantages of Election of the leadership of political parties

Answer 18

Although Liz Truss’ policies proved very popular with Conservative Party members they were hugely divisive among Conservative MPs, leading to political chaos and her resignation after only 45 days in office

Question 19

Why is the Power of recall used

Answer 19

If an MP has been imprisoned, suspended from the House by the Committee on Standards or convicted of making false expenses claims then a recall petition signed by a minimum of 10% of their constituents can trigger a by-election.

Question 20

When is the power of recall used

Answer 20

In 2019 the Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya was sentenced to a three-month jail term for perverting the course of justice. 25% of registered voters demanded her recall and she did not contest the subsequent by-election.

In 2019 Chris Davies was convicted of making fraudulent expenses claims. 19% of the registered electors of Brecon and Radnorshire signed a recall petition. Davies contested the subsequent by-election, which he lost

Question 21

Advantgaes of the power of recall

Answer 21

Power of recall makes MPs accountable to their constituents in matters of serious misconduct or illegal behaviour.

Question 22

Disadvantages of the power of recall

Answer 22

However, the circumstances in which it can be activated are so extreme that critics argue its impact has been negligible

Question 23

Disadvantages od direct democracy

Answer 23

Critics of direct democracy respond that referendums dangerously simplify questions to a binary ‘yes/no’ when the issues are much more complex than that.

For example, the UK’s departure from the EU raised highly complicated issues such as the UK’s relationship with the EU customs union and the EU single market, and the border status of Northern Ireland. None of these issues was addressed in the 2016 referendum, which posed only this question: ‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?’

A direct democracy can challenge the Burkean principle that representatives should act according to their conscience, not the wishes of their constituents. A high-profile example of this is Theresa May, who supported Remain in the 2016 referendum but went on to lead a government committed to withdrawing from the EU.

Direct democracy does not balance conflicting interests or protect the rights of minorities. This is why Clement Attlee referred to referendums as ‘a device of demagogues and dictators’.

Direct democracy can also encourage the public to vote on issues on which they are not sufficiently knowledgeable to make well-informed decisions.

Question 23

Advantages of direct democracy

Answer 23

Supporters of direct democracy argue that it engages the public and makes politicians more responsive to what people really think. This creates a closer connection between the public and political decision making.

By providing the public with more opportunities to make decisions it creates greater engagement in the political process, encouraging a more politically educated and civically involved citizenry.

A greater use of direct democracy ensures that our representatives are kept better informed of developing public attitudes through referendums, consultative exercises and electronic petitions.

Question 24

Is the UK in a participation crisis

Answer 24

It has been suggested that a general failure to engage in politics means that the public are so content with politics that they see no pressing need to engage. This is an extremely dangerous argument because it suggests that politicians should aspire to complete public disengagement from politics, which would be the end of participatory democracy.

Question 25

Is the UK in a participation crisis (YES)

Answer 25

Turnout at elections has been low in recent years and variable at referendums e.g. election 2024- 60% 2019-67%

Welsh devolution turnout 51.3% however for the Scottish Independence the turnout was 84.6%

Membership of parties has signifcantly decreased over the past 30 years

The Labour Party has around 432,000 members as of December 2021 (Electoral Commission data)
The Conservative Party has around 172,000 members as of September 2022

compared with 1953 with Conservatives having a membership of 2,806,000 and Labour 1,005,000

There is a good deal of disillusion and apathy among the young who have become disengaged with party politics e.g. Young people’s voting tunrout is consistently low 2019-47% 2024-52%

Question 25

Is the UK in a participation crisis (NO)

Answer 25

E-petitions have had very high repsonses rates e.g. for a second referendum in 2016 (3.8mil) and against road pricing scheme in 2007 (1.8mil)

Young people are increasingly imvolved in pressure groups, social movements and online campaigns e.g pressure groups such as amnesty internarionall campaigning on bahlf of political prisoners and friends of the earth campaigning for more climate action

Support for alternative parties has grown since 1990s e.g. reform got 4million votes in 2015 4,072,947 in 2024 election

865,707 green vote 2015 2mil votes in 2024