Democracy and Participation (UK)

Question 1

Democracy:

Answer 1

A form of government in which power is held by the people. This power is usually exercised on the behalf of the people by their elected representatives.

Question 2

Direct Democracy:

Answer 2

Where citizens are directly involved in the decision making process. It is impractical to organise mass meetings in a democracy where there are millions of voters, although occasional referendums are held in the UK in order to answer major political questions.

Question 3

Representative democracy:

Answer 3

Where the people transfer the power to make decisions to elected representatives. For the most part Britain functions as a representative democracy.

Question 4

Parliamentary Democracy:

Answer 4

A democracy where the government is not directly elected, but drawn from the elected representatives in Parliament.

Question 5

Liberal Democracy:

Answer 5

A form of democracy where there are limits on government power, the vote is widely held, and there are entrenched rights to protect individual freedoms.

Question 6

What are the strengths of direct democracy?

Answer 6

Most genuine forms of democracy as people give their view on every political issue.

No need for elective representatives.

System promotes a high level of political education, engagement and participation.

People seriously consider political issues and take responsibility for their decisions as there aren’t elected representatives to blame.

Prevents power from being concentrated in the hands of a small political elite.

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of a direct democracy?

Answer 7

Modern populations means its expensive and impractical.

Many members of the public may not have the time, interest or inclination to be politically engaged.

The wealthy in society can distort the referendum process through manipulation of the media or corruption.

Public might be unwilling to vote for unpopular but necessary decisions.

Biggest groups in society will always get their way - ‘tyranny of the majority’.

Question 8

What are the strengths of representative democracy?

Answer 8

More practical to allow elected representatives to make political decisions.

MPs develop great expertise - enables them to carefully consider complex decisions.

Experienced politicians more likely to implement unpopular but necessary decisions.

Representatives likely to represent voters because they know they will be held accountable at the next election.

MPs seek to represent the needs of all constituents.

Question 9

What are the weaknesses of representative democracy?

Answer 9

Representatives don’t always respond to the views of voters.

Parties have a big influence over the actions of MPs at the expense of the view of voters.

Public become disengaged with politics between elections due to a lack of opportunities for meaningful participation - leaves power in the hands of a small political elite.

UKs FPTP system makes it hard for smaller groups to win - means views of many of completely unrepresented.

Refrom won 14.3% of the vote share in 2024, with only 5 seats.

Question 10

Give examples of recent referendums:

Answer 10

2011: Alternative Vote referendum - 32% voted ‘yes’, 68% voted ‘no’.

2014: Scottish Independence referendum 45% voted ‘yes’, 55% voted ‘no’.

2016: EU referendum 48% voted ‘remain’, 52% voted ‘leave’.

Question 11

What does the government decide in a referendum?

Answer 11

The threshold for success (1979 Scottish Parliament referendum required 40% of total electorate to vote ‘Yes’)

The question (1997 Scottish Parliament referendum divided the referendum into two questions: Should there be a Scottish Parliament? Should it have tax-raising powers?)

Question 12

How does representative democracy work in a general election?

Answer 12

Uk divided into 650 constituencies roughly of an equal size - each cosntmurcy elects a single MP who represents them.

Question 13

How is representative democracy seen in a party manifesto?

Answer 13

Voters read manifestos and vote for the party whose policies they support.

The party that wins can claim mandate - meaning the authority to implement the policies outlined in their manifesto.

Question 14

How is representative democracy seen in government?

Answer 14

Formed by the party that wins a majority (usually).

Leader of the party become PM.

2024, Labour win 411 seats.

Question 15

Hung pariament:

Answer 15

When no party wins a majority.
A coalition or minority government may be formed.

Question 16

How many people are enfranchised in the Uk?

Answer 16

71.5%.

Question 17

Great Reform Act 1832:

Answer 17

One in five male adults could now vote. This comprised 5.6% of the adult male population. Enfranchised middle class males. It abolished ‘rotten boroughs’ such as Old Sarum. These were constituencies that had almost no voters but dutifully elected two MPs every election.

Question 18

Second Reform Act 1867:

Answer 18

It allowed many working class men in cities to vote, doubling the size of the electorate. Roughly one-third of men could now vote.

Question 19

Third Reform Act 1884:

Answer 19

It established a uniform franchise across the country for men. All working men who met a property qualification could now vote. 40% of adult men were still excluded,

Question 20

Representation of the people act 1918:

Answer 20

All men over the age of 21 (or 19 for veterans) could vote. Women over 30 who met the property qualification could now vote.

Question 21

Representation of the people act 1928:

Answer 21

Women finally received the vote on equal terms to men. All men and women over 21 could now vote. Property qualifications were removed.

Question 22

Representation of the people act 1969:

Answer 22

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

Question 23

What was the Chartist movement?

Answer 23

The first mass movement driven by the working classes. It grew following the failure of the 1832 Reform Act to extend the vote beyond those owning property.

Question 24

What were the people’s charters 6 demands?

Answer 24

1) All men to have the vote
2) Secret ballot
3) Annual parliamentary elections
4) Constituencies of equal size
5) MPs should be paid
6) Property qualifications for MPs abolished

Question 25

What methods did the chartists use?

Answer 25

Mass petitions and provoked some civil unrest in the 1830s and 1840s. Second Reform Act 1867 extended the franchise to skilled workers, and by 1918 5 of the 6 demands had been achieved.

Question 26

Why were the suffragists?

Answer 26

1866 - first petition calling for women to have the right to vote presented in parliament. NUWWS - Set up by Millicent Fawcett. Promoted methods that were peaceful and legal. By 1914 there were 100,000 members.

Question 27

Why were the suffragettes significant?

Answer 27

Formed in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters. Early membership was working class women, but moved to upper and middle class women. Methods were violent. Public opinion against the suffragettes.

Question 28

What evidence is there that there is a participation crisis in the UK?

Answer 28

Poor Turnout - Turnout in 2024 was 59.7%, lowest for an election since 2001. Turnout among 18-24 year olds was 54%. Partisan Dealignment: people no loner strongly identify with party - pols show that only 35% of people feel a strong support for a political party.

Question 29

What are the causes of low participation:

Answer 29

Apathy. Hapathy - too content to vote? Lack of time. Class dealignment. FPTP Lack of choice politically.

Question 30

Argument that there is a participation crisis?

Answer 30

Low turnout, recent election turnout below 75% overage. Questionable mandate: conservatives got only 29% of the electorates vote in 2019. Differential turnout: young and working class less likely to vote. Declining party membership. Political disengagement.

Question 31

Argument that there isn't a participation crisis?

Answer 31

Increased turnout recent elections: Scottish independence 85% and Brexit was 75%. Recent rise in party membership. Non-electoral participation is strong: pressure groups. The RSPB have more members that the three major parties combined. E-Democracies: e-petitions.

Question 32

What are the features of a liberal democracy?

Answer 32

Regular, free and fair elections with universal suffrage. A constitution which lays out the powers and functions of government institutions, establishing clear limits on government power, and listing the rights belonging to citizens. The separation of powers into executive, legislative and judicial branches. Checks and balances to limit the power of any branch of government. Rights of individuals entrenched in fundamental, higher law. Pluralism - many competing parties and pressure groups. A free press that can scrutinise the government.

Question 33

Ways in which the UK can be viewed as a liberal democracy:

Answer 33

All adults can elect representatives in free and fair national and local elections. The government depends on the support of the House of Commons for survival. Parliament scrutinises the government. Government bound by the rule of law. Independent judiciary. Range of political parties and pressure groups. A free press.

Question 34

Issues which cast doubt on the UK's status as a liberal democracy:

Answer 34

Low participation. FPTP Unelected House of Lords. Unelected head of state. Elective dictatorship. Royal prerogative. Unentrenched rights. Elitism - Jenrick Scandal 2020.

Question 35

How could participation and democracy be improved?

Answer 35

Codifying the constitution. Reform of the monarchy. Reform of the Lords - currently contains 92 hereditary peers. Greater use of direct democracy. Recall elections. Electoral reform - FPTP is flawed. Primary elections: expensive 40,000 pound. Compulsory voting Lowering the voting age. Votes for prisoners.

Question 35

Argument for prisoners voting:

Answer 35

The denial of the right to vote removes a sense of civic responsibility, making rehabilitation even harder. There is no evidence that loss of the franchise acts as a deterrent. The right to vote is fundamental and cannot be removed. Removal of the vote makes a prisoner a non-person and further alienates them from society. In 2005 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the blanket ban on prisoners is a violation of the Human Rights Act.

Question 36

Arguments against prisoners voting:

Answer 36

Those who commit a custodial crime against society should lose the right to have a say in how that society is run. The threat of losing the right to vote prevents crime and enhances civic responsibility. Giving convicted criminals the right to have a say in how laws are made would undermine the principle of justice. Prisoners are concentrated in certain constituencies where they are unlikely to remain once free so they should not be able to choose the representatives for those communities.

Question 37

Argument for the voting age being lowered to 16:

Answer 37

The decision to allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum was widely regarded as a success. Would broaden the franchise to a group who already have considerable rights and responsibilities. The pressure group Votes at 16 claims that lowering the voting age will 'engage, empower and inspire 16 and 17 year olds. There are many places around the world where 16 and 17 year olds can vote, such as in Germany (in state elections).

Question 38

Argument for the voting age not being lowered:

Answer 38

Most 16 and 17 year olds pay little or no tax. It has been suggested that many young people are too ill-informed and immature to be given the vote. Turnout among 18-24 year olds is already the lowest of any age group, suggesting the voting age would simply worsen the participation crisis. Private-members bills proposing the idea have failed to progress beyond the second reading.