democracy and participation pt2

Question 1

what do franchise and suffrage mean

Answer 1

the ‘right to vote’

Question 2

features of UK suffrage

Answer 2

• everyone 18+ has the right to vote in elections
• except for prisoners, ppl who are certified as insane, the royal family

Question 3

forms of political participation

Answer 3

• voting in elections
• joining political parties
• becoming an active member of a party
• joining a trade union
• joining a pressure group
• signing petitions or e-petitions

Question 4

4 ways THERE IS a participation crisis in the UK

Answer 4

1. VOTING IN GE - 60% turnout in 2024 GE down from 67% 2019. lowest turnout since 2001
2. JOINING POLITICAL PARTIES - approx 1.7% of UK are members of political parties - ppl not actively involved and disconnected from politics
3. UNION MEMBERSHIP - fallen from 13 million in 1979 to 6.4 million in 2023.
4. JOINING PRESSURE GROUPS - many ‘cheque-book’ members pay memberships but do little else - ppl are disconnected and too busy to engage

Question 5

3 ways there ISNT a participation crisis in the UK

Answer 5

1. VOTING IN GE - high profile elections still gain high turnout (Brexit 2017 highest turnout since 1997 of 68.8%) - more ppl engage when they care - issue-based voting
2. JOINING POLITICAL PARTIES - 2015-2019 Labour party membership rose to 500k+ - highest in Europe at the time - after Jeremy Corbyn became leader
3. JOINING PRESSURE GROUPS - Greenpeace Uk has over 250k+ members and uses direct action and lobbying against environmental issues

Question 6

3 methods to improve political participation ARGUMENTS FOR

Answer 6

1. LOWERING VOTING AGE IN GE
   - Scotland and Wales 16/17-year-olds vote in regional and local elections
   - youth turnout in the Scottish Independence ref reached 80%
   - encourages lifelong voting - habits
   - at 16 you can pay tax and join army - you should have a say in how its run
2. COMPULSARY VOTING
   - 100% turnout - more legitimate
   - Australia has it and it works
   - more engaged and educated electorate
3. ONLINE VOTING -
   - boost youth voting - help close the age participation gap
   - Estonia has had it since 2005
   - saves time and money - faster results more efficient

Question 7

3 methods to improve political participation ARGUMENTS AGINAST

Answer 7

1. LOWER VOTING AGE
   - 18-24 turnout 2019 - 47%
   - not enough education or political understanding - uniformed voting
2. COMPULSORY VOTING
   - voting is a right not a duty and ppl have the freedom not to vote if they chose
   - uninformed voting - ppl might spoil their ballot papers which undermines the quality of electoral outcomes

ONLINE VOTING
- risks to cybersecurity through hacking or fraud
- not everyone has access to internet or the digital skills - old ppl
- lack of public confidence bc they dont trust it - reduce turnout