Democracy And Participation: The Different Types Of Democracy

Question 1

What is the primary form of democracy in the UK?

Answer 1

Representative democracy

Question 2

What is representative democracy?

Answer 2

Involves the people voting for representatives who then serve in parliament or on councils as MPs or councillors

Question 3

How does accountability occur in a representative democracy?

Answer 3

Comes in the form of regular elections when voters can endorse or reject candidates at the ballot box

Question 4

What are the advantages of a representative democracy?

Answer 4

Elected representatives have the knowledge and skill to make complex and difficult decisions
By being responsible for nearly all areas of policy and decision-making, they are able to take a broader view of issues and balance effusively competing for claims and issues
Belonging to a political party enables voters to have a good idea of how representatives will act in power
Representative government is more efficient than laying numerous decisions and laws directly before the people for approval or rejection

Question 5

What is direct democracy?

Answer 5

It entails directly involving the people in policy choices as opposed to leaving it purely to elected officials

Question 6

What are some example of direct democracy in Northern Ireland?

Answer 6

1973 - Vote on whether it would remain part of the UK
1998 - Vote on the Good Friday agreement

Question 7

What are some example of direct democracy in Scotland?

Answer 7

1979 and 1997 - Proposed introduction of devolution
2014 - Independence referendum

Question 8

What are some example of direct democracy in Wales?

Answer 8

1979 and 1997 - Proposed introduction of devolution
2011 - Vote on whether more powers should be transferred to the Welsh Assembly

Question 9

What are some example of direct democracy in London?

Answer 9

1998 - Referendum on whether there should be a directly elected mayor of London and the creation of a Greater London Authority

Question 10

What are some example of direct democracy for the whole of the UK?

Answer 10

1975 - Vote on the continued membership of the EU
2011 - Proposal to replace the FPTP electoral system with the alternative vote (AV)
2016 - EU referendum

Question 11

What is a modern form of direct democracy?

Answer 11

E-democracy

Question 12

What is some example of popular e-petitions?

Answer 12

In 2019 around 6 million signatures were collected in a petition to revoke Article 50 and have the UK remain in the EU
In 2017 around 1.8 million signatures were collected in a petition to stop plans to introduce road pricing, which would of charged motorists for actual road use