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UK Government And Politics > Democracy And Political Participation > Flashcards

Democracy And Political Participation Flashcards

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1
Q

Anarchy definition

A

A condition of lawlessness and disorder caused by the absence of any controlling authority

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2
Q

Ballot definition

A

A method of secret voting

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3
Q

Constituent definition

A

A citizen residing in a particular MP’s area or district

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4
Q

Constituency

A

An area whose voters elect a representative to a legislative body

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5
Q

Democracy definition

A

A government of the people, by the people and for the people

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6
Q

Direct democracy definition

A

A political system or circumstance where the people themselves make key political decisions directly

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7
Q

Liberal democracy

A

A democracy where there is an emphasis on the protection of individual rights and liberties

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8
Q

Limited government definition

A

The powers of government are limited by law

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9
Q

What is 38 degrees

A

A website where people can become involved in politics by; watching videos, signing e-petitions, joining campaigns etc

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10
Q

Accountability definition

A

Government takes responsibility for and justifies their actions and decisions

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11
Q

Athenian democracy definition

A

The first form of democracy in the world.

A form of direct democracy

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12
Q

Burkean representation definition

A

The idea that MP’s are better suited to make key political decisions as they are more politically educated and won’t make emotional decisions

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13
Q

Citizen definition

A

A member of a political community that has certain rights e.g. The right to vote

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14
Q

Compulsory voting definition

A

Forcing every eligible voter to vote by law

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15
Q

Democratic deficit definition

A

A situation where there is a decrease in democracy , e.g. a lack of democratic accountability

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16
Q

E-democracy definition

A

Democracy or politics on the Internet

E.g. e-voting, e-petitions, blogs, vlogs

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17
Q

Government definition

A

The group of people with the authority to govern a country

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18
Q

Legitimacy definition

A

The degree to which a state or its government can be considered to have the right to exercise power

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19
Q

Referendum definition

A

A popular vote where the people are asked to determine an important political or constitutional issue directly

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20
Q

Representation definition

A

The state of being pep resented by an MP in parlimeny

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21
Q

Representative definition

A

An MP who represent the people in a constituency or area

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22
Q

Representative democracy definition

A

A political system where most decisions are made by elected representatives rather than the people themselves

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23
Q

Parliamentary democracy definition

A

A type of representative democracy where an elected parliament is the source of all political authority and where government is drawn largely from parliament

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24
Q

How is the UK undemocratic

A

First past the post considered unfair - causes low turnout at elections
Under 18s can’t vote - unrepresentative
No elected head of state

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25
Q

How can voter turnout be increased

A

Make voting compulsory
Lower the voting age
Electoral reform

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26
Q

What are the disadvantages of e-democracy

A

False information - make people support a cause they don’t really believe in
Make issues seem more important and supported than they are

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27
Q

What is the west Lothian question

A

Should Scottish MPs be able to vote on English only laws

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28
Q

In what ways do referendums enhance democracy

A

Entrenches constitutional change - EC referendum
Most direct form of democracy
Prevent government from making unpopular decisions - Scottish independence referendum

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29
Q

In what ways do referendums not enhance democracy

A

People can use them to show distaste at the government - 2011 AV referendum
Tyranny of the majority - Scottish independence referendum
People may not understand complex issues - EU treaties

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30
Q

How has digital democracy developed in the UK

A

E- petitions - 38 degrees - save Coventry stadium
Social networking - conservative Facebook page
Blogs - labour first

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31
Q

What are the arguments for the further use of referendums in the UK

A

Stop government from making unpopular decisions - Scottish independence referendum referendum
Decisions are more likely to be accepted by the people if they make them - Good Friday agreement
Government may be unable to solve some problems - EC referendum - party split

32
Q

What are the arguments against the continued use of referendums in the UK

A

Tyranny of the majority - Scottish independence referendum
Vote to show dislike of government - AV after tuition fees raised
Some people may not be politically educated - struggle to understand issues e.g. EU treaties
People can be influenced by tabloids and the Internet - information could be false

33
Q

How can political participation be improved

A 
Lower voting age
Electoral reform - more proportional 
Compulsory voting 
Teach citizenship in school
E-voting - easier to vote
34
Q

How do people grant consent to government

A

Elections
Referendums
Demonstrations of support - marches/petitions

35
Q

How is the UK a pluralist democracy

A

A wide range of beliefs are tolerated
Range of parties
Range of pressure groups

36
Q

Advantages of representative democracy

A

Most people do not have time to be continually involved in political
decisions
MPs have more experience and specialist knowledge
MPs are rational - avoid emotional decisions - death penalty

37
Q

What are the disadvantages of representative democracy

A

Between elections it is hard to make MPs accountable
MPs may ignore the demands of the people who elect them
MPs are partisan - align themselves with their party and may ignore local wishes
Sometimes, conflict can only be resolved by direct democracy - EC referendum

38
Q

What are the advantages of compulsory voting

A

Increased election turnout

Forces people to consider political issues

39
Q

What are the disadvantages of making voting compulsory

A

Abuses freedom of choice

Cost involved with policing

40
Q

What are the advantages of lowering the voting age to 16

A

Makes the young more politically aware
Makes political education more relevant
Makes election results more representative

41
Q

What are the disadvantages of lowering the voting age to 16

A

16 year olds are too young to make important decisions

Many 16 year olds would chose not to vote anyway

42
Q

What are the advantages of e-voting

A

Provide greater access - some people may not be able to go and vote
Increased turnout - more are likely to be able to vote

43
Q

What are the disadvantages of e-voting

A

Vulnerable to hacking/fraud

Information online can be wrong - Britain first

44
Q

How is the UK a liberal democracy

A

Free and fair elections - anyone over 18 can vote if they are not in jail
Wide range of views are tolerated - pluralist
Individual rights allowed and protected - human rights act
Government is accountable to the people to ensure that it is attempting to act in their best interest
There is a high degree of acceptance of the results of elections - little or no violence associated with mainstream politics

45
Q

How is the UK not a liberal democracy

A

Low turnout
2 party system
Partisan dealignment

46
Q

How can democracy in the UK be improved

A

Elected House of Lords
Elected head of state
Codified constitution
Electoral reform

47
Q

What are the advantages of introducing an elected House of Lords to improve democracy

A

Increased legitimacy

Provide a check on government

48
Q

What are the disadvantages of introducing an elected House of Lords to improve democracy

A

May be less independent from parties in the House of Commons

May slow down decision making

49
Q

What are the advantages of introducing an elected head of state to improve democracy

A

Increased legitimacy

They could legitimately end deadlocks

50
Q

What are the disadvantages of introducing elected head of state to improve democracy

A

Destabilise deadlocks

Eliminate long standing historical decisions

51
Q

What are the advantages of introducing a codified constitution to improve democracy

A

Increase engagement with system

Rights and freedoms better protected

52
Q

What are the disadvantages of introducing a codified constitution to improve democracy

A

Less flexible

May slow down decision making

53
Q

What are the advantages of using electoral reform to improve democracy

A

Make elections fairer - UKIP 4m votes but 1 seat

Reflect the pluralist nature of the UK - government would be more legitimate

54
Q

What are the disadvantages of using electoral reform to improve democracy

A

Change rejected in 2011

People want a strong and stable government like in 2015 - no coalition - another system may not create this

55
Q

How can the democratic deficit be reduced

A

Reduce voting age to 16
Compulsory voting
E-voting

56
Q

How is Britain a representative democracy

A

Each MP represents a constituency
Both Houses of Parliament are, to some extent, expected to act as a representative cross section of society as a whole
All mainstream parties claim to represent the nation as a whole
People are represented by pressure groups
The media, especially newspapers, represent the general public

57
Q

How is Britain not a representative democracy

A

MPs may put party politics first
The houses of parliament are unrepresentative - few women, ethnic minorities and young people -90% are university educated

58
Q

Why would direct democracy not work well today

A

The population is too large - not plausible

59
Q

What is it called when the people call for an election

A

An initiative

60
Q

What is a example of a form of initiative

A

E-petition

61
Q

What are examples of referendums

A 
2011 AV referendum
1975 EC referendum 
Good Friday agreement referendum
2014 Scottish independence referendum 
Elected London mayor election
62
Q

What are the problems with referendums

A

Yes/no question only
Costly
Low turnout

63
Q

What is an example of a referendum that enhanced constitutional change

A

1975 EC referendum - has not been one since - but one planned for 2017 - now EU

64
Q

What is an example of a referendum with a low turnout

A

London mayor referendum - 34% turnout

65
Q

Why is democracy important

A 
Allows freedom of speech
Protects minority groups 
Limits governments power
Power is spread widely 
Voting - people decide who they want to be in charge of the country
66
Q

How is the UK democratic

A

Free media
Elected prime minister
Freedom of speech
Referendums
Anyone can join almost any political party or pressure group
Each part of the UK is represented by an MP - constituency
Pressure groups and parties represent different interests

67
Q

What is party delegation

A

People vote for a party as a whole - not a candidate

68
Q

Monolithic definition

A

Everyone thinks and does the same thing - no one disagrees with it

69
Q

What I an example of direct democracy in the UK

A

Referendums

70
Q

How are referendums and elections different

A

A referendum is a yes or no question, in an election people vote for a party/candidate
Referendums held at any time, election held within 5 years
In an election the people have the power but in a referendum the government still has power - can ignore the result but never have
Referendums are a for of direct democracy, elections are a form of representative democracy
Referendums represent the will of the majority, elections are pluralist

71
Q

How is representative democracy superior to direct democracy

A

MPs have more knowledge in political issues so may have better judgements - people may make emotional decisions
It would be difficult to ask the entire community about complex issues
Allows mediation - parties can work together in a way that would be impossible for the entire community to do

72
Q

How is representative democracy not superior to direct democracy

A

People are more likely to accept a decision if they made it than if MPs did - 2014 Scottish independence referendum
Direct democracy entrenches policies - 1975 EC referendum
E- petitions, a form of direct democracy, are easily accessible and can be used to influence policies

73
Q

Citizenship definition

A

The idea that members of the political community have certain rights with respect to political institutions

74
Q

How can people participate in politics

A 
Simply being informed about issues
Contributing to online forums or petitions
Voting in various elections
Joining a pressure group
Taking part in physical or e-petitions 
Joining a political party
Becoming active in a party 
Becoming active in a pressure group
Running for political office - to be an MP or the prime minister
75
Q

Political participation definition

A

Opportunities for and tendencies of the people to become involved in the political process

76
Q

What are the main features of parliamentary democracy in the UK

A

Parliament is the source of all political power - sovereign
Government is drawn from parliament
Government makes itself constant accountable to parliament
All citizens are represented by an MP
Parliament as a whole is expected to represent the national interest

UK Government And Politics (6 decks)

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