Democracy And Particpation Flashcards
What are three benefits of democracy ?
Establishes and protects freedoms
Protects from tyranny of the majority
Encourages participation
What are three criticisms of democracy ?
Periodic participation
Parliamentary sovereignty means lack of government control
Can get rid of rights through consent of the people
What is the difference between direct and representative democracy ?
The difference between direct and representative is that the people make the decisions for themselves in direct whereas in representative the people elect someone to represent them in their interests.
What are three advantages of direct democracy ?
Purest form of democracy
Increases legitimacy
Increases participation
What are three disadvantages of direct democracy ?
People can be swayed to easily by populism and emotion
Tyranny of the majority
Not practical
What are three advantages of representative democracy ?
Representatives have more knowledge and time to help make complex decisions
Representatives can combat tyranny of the majority by balancing the needs of multiple groups
Representative are less susceptible to emotions swaying their decisions
How did democracy develop in Britain ?
First reform act in 1832
What are eight features of a liberal democracy ?
Free and fair elections
Government gets held to account
Peaceful transition of power
Government legitimacy
Information available to all
Right and liberties are protected
Limited and controlled government
A variety of cultures and beliefs are tolerated and respected
What are three ways people can participate in politics ?
Protesting
Joining parties
Pressure groups
What is the franchise/suffrage ?
The right to vote in free elections
How did women get the vote ?
By protesting from the suffragettes and the suffragists
What are the current issues surrounding the future of suffrage and the right to vote ? (3)
Prisoners not having the right
16 year olds not having the right
Voter id
What are pressure groups ?
Associations whose purpose it is to promote a particular cause
What are the different types of pressure groups ? (3)
Causal
Dual functional
Sectional
What are causal pressure groups ?
They promote a particular issue or cause, which could benefit more than just one group.
What are sectional pressure groups ?
They represent a particular section in society.
What are dual functional pressure groups ?
Groups that fulfil both sectional and caused based functions
Which three other groups can influence politics ?
Lobbyists
Think tanks
Corporations
Define rights in the uk ?
An entitlement to be treated or act in a particular way
Define human rights in the uk ?
Human rights are rights that people are entitled to simply by the virtue of being a human being
Define civil liberties in the uk ?
protection citizens have from government and the state, as well as those rights that are guaranteed by the state.
What are the nine ways that participation can be improved in the uk ?
Compulsory voting
Reducing the voting age
Making voting easier
Politics lessons
Electoral reform
Digital democracy
Referendums
Recalling failing MPs
Introducing an elected second chamber
When was the great reform act ?
What did it do ?
1832
Introduced major changes to the electoral system of England and wales
When was the second reform act ?
What did it do ?
1867
Enfranchised part of the urban male working class in England and Wales
