Democracy and participation- Paper 1 Flashcards
Direct democracy
Individuals express their opinions themselves
Direct democracy pros and cons
PROS:
-purest form of democracy
-can avoid delay
-vert legitimate
CONS:
-tyranny of the majority
-difficult in large societys
-some issues too complex
representative democracy
people select a person or party to make a political decision on their behalf
Representative democracies pros and cons
PROS:
-only practical way in large societies
-representatives can develop expertise
-leaves public free to get on with their lives
CONS:
-can be difficult to hold representatives to account
- lead to public disengagement
-representatives may not act in the best interest of the people
forms of representation in the UK
-parties
-constituencies
-pressure groups
The UK IS democratic
-nearly everyone over 18 can vote
-ECHR and Judiciary
-free media and internet access
The UK ISNT democratic
-FPTP isn’t proportionate
-parliament is sovereign
-a lot of the press in in the hands of a few people
Potential reform in the UK
REPLACE HOLS WITH AN ELECTED CHAMBER:
- more legitimate
x may cause rivalry with the HOCs
REPLACE FPTP:
- proportionate
x coalition more likely
STATE PARTY FUNDING:
- allows politicians to focus on their jobs
x how to distribute funding?
Forms of participation
PARTY MEMBERSHIP:
-1950s over 3 million
-in decline since
VOTING:
-local, general, referendums
DIGITAL:
-e-petitions
Brexit referendum
-2016
-leave= 52/
-remain= 48/
-turnout=72/
E-petition eg’s
2016 2ND BREXIT REFERENDUM:
-3.6 mill signatures
-debate held
-unsuccessful
2020 MORE SUPPORT TO THE ARTS:
-200,000 signatures
-gov increased funding
Compulsory voting
-Australia
-Turn out always above 90/
FOR:
-people forced to inform themselves
-more of society involved
-increased legitimacy
AGAINST:
x ill informed votes
x spoiled ballots
x favours larger parties
Suffrage
the ability/ right to vote
Suffragist’s
-open to all
-Fawcett
-internally democratic
-peaceful methods eg meetings, petitions
-1897
-3000
Suffragettes
-women only
-run by Pankhurst and daughters
-not democratic
-violent methods
-1903
-over 100,000