Democracy and Representation Flashcards
Define democracy
power to the people
Define direct democracy
when people vote directly on issues
Define representative democracy
vote for a representative to make decisions for you
Pros of direct democracy
- Majority opinions
- more democratic
- everyone gets a say
Cons of direct democracy
- people may not know about the topic
- misleading
- don’t understand consequences
- time consuming
- causes divisions between people
- not everyone votes
Pros of representative democracy
- more informed decisions
- quicker and direct line of communication
- understand the system
Cons of representative democracy
- not everyone’s opinions
- a government can be elected with a minority vote
- make their own decisions - might not keep promises
What are the political levels of representation?
- local level
- national level
- international level
What are the types of election in the UK?
- local
- general
- european
- referendums
- by - elections
How can the government be held accountable?
- elections
- PMQs
- Minister’s questions
- select committees
What is social representation?
characteristics of representatives should match to the characteristics of the population
What are national interests?
The interests of the country that MPs are supposed to represent even if they clash with the interests of the constituency
What are the types of representation?
- constituency
- party
- functional
- causal
- government
How can someone participate in politics?
- standing for public office
- active party membership
- active pressure group membership
- passive party membership
- digital activist
- voting
What is freedom of expression?
Being allowed to say what you want without consequence
What is freedom of information?
Being allowed to access and distribute any information held by the public sector organisations
What are the features of a democratic society?
peaceful transition of power free and fair elections widespread participation in politics freedom of expression freedom of association protection of rights and liberties the rule of law independent judiciary limited government nd constitutionalism
What does a peaceful transition of power mean?
those who lose power by democratic means accept the authority of those who have won
What does free elections mean?
all adults are free to vote and to stand for office whilst ballots are done in secret
What is universal suffrage?
everyone has the right to run for office
Define plurality
more votes than any other candidate
Define absolute majority
more than 50% of votes
Describe the first past the post system
UK is divided into 650 constituencies with around 75000 people in each one
To win seat only need a plurality vote
A party needs majority seats to win an election
Advantages of first past the post
- easy to understand
- close constituency - mp bond
- accountability of MP
- produces a clear winner
- prevents extremist parties
- been around for a while
Disadvantages of first past the post
- overall outcome not proportional
- can win more seats without most votes
- many wasted votes
- votes unequally valuable
- encourages tactical voting
- winning party has secured less than half the popular votes since 1945
- sometimes no one gets majority
advantages of the additional member system
- more choice
- help smaller parties who can’t win constituencies to get seats
- broadly proportional outcome
disadvantages of the additional member system
- complex causing confusion
- 2 classes of MPs causes constituency MPs to work harder than regional MPs
- allows room for extremist candidates
describe the additional member system
IDK research it
describe the single transferable voting system
- each constituency gets 6 seats
- helps power sharing between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland
- each party can put up 6 candidates but only can win 4
- see ballot with all candidates and told to rank as many as they want
- use electoral quota to figure out who has been elected
what is the electoral quota?
minimum number of votes needed to be automatically elected
number of ballots cast/1 = x+1
advantages of the single transferable voting system
- gives more parties a chance
- lots of options - keeps power sharing
- still some representation
- stops conflicts in northern ireland
disadvantages of the single transferable voting system
- hard to know who is responsible
- leaves room for extremist parties
describe the supplementary voting system
- winner must have absolute majority
- get a first and second choice
- both are combined to create votes
- top 2 go to second round
- candidates who haven’t won are knocked out and votes given to top 2 if they’re second preference
advantages of the supplementary voting system
- winning candidates always have a majority
- first and second choice relevant
- simple for voters
\
disadvantages of the supplementary voting system
- promotes a 2 party system
- wipes 3rd biggest party
- winning candidate can win purely on second choice
What is the Glorious revolution and bill of rights act 1689?
The king would rule along a permanent parliament elected by free elections and all members had a right to free speech
What is the Great reforms act 1832?
Extended the amount of people who could vote to people with ownership and tenancy of property (about 3% of the population)
What is the second reforms act 1867?
Extended the right to vote to around 2 million people excluding women, propertyless and tenants of cheap properties
What was the Ballots Act 1872?
Introduced the secret ballot
What was the third reform act 1884?
Extended the vote to working class men meaning 60% of people over 21 have the right to vote
What was the representation of the peoples act 1918?
Most adult men and women over 30 who are married, own property or are graduates, have the right to vote
What was the representation of the people equal franchise act 1928?
All adults over 21 including women can vote
What was the representation of the people act 1948?
Disallowed the rule that allowed that let some members of universities have 2 votes
what was the representation of the people act 1969?
Reduced legal voting age from 21 to 18
What was the Scottish elections act 2016?
Allowed 16 and 17 year olds to vote in Scottish referendums and all Scottish parliamentary elections
What are the different types of pressure groups?
- promotional
- sectional
- inside
- outside
What are promotional pressure groups?
- promote a cause
- convert ideas behind government action
- e.g. the green party
What are sectional pressure groups?
- represent a particular part of society
- contribute to functional representation
- self-interested
- believe serving interest of their members and supporters will benefit wider community
What are the functions of a pressure group?
- represent underrepresented groups
- protect minority groups
- promote certain causes
- inform and educate the public
- hold the government accountable
- pass key information to government
- give opportunities to participate in politics
Methods used by pressure groups
- access points and lobbying
- public campaigning
- grants to political parties
- parliamentary representation
- media campaigns
- illegal methods
- push issues through court
Factors affecting success and weakness
- size
- finance
- strategic position
- public mood
- attitude of government
Define lobbying
People inside the government who are influential
What are think tanks?
- set up by government to advise on policy
- organisation
- research public policy
- financed by government or privately
- neutral of political axe to grind
What is the difference between pressure groups and political parties?
- parties seek to gain power
- parties are willing to makes themselves accountable for policy
- parties develop policy across a wide range of government
- pressure groups are interested in one particular thing
What are civil liberties?
The protections citizens have against a government and the state as well as those rights guaranteed by the state
What are human rights?
broader protections that are not always guaranteed by the government. Tend to go further than civil liberites
What are the civil liberties in the UK?
- Not to be imprisoned without trial
- Right to a fair trial
- Vote and stand for election
- Not to suffer discrimination
- Form associations for peaceful ends
What are common law rights?
- Traditional conceptions of how disputes should be settled and what rights individuals have
- established by judges
- found in law books
What was the human rights act 1998?
- brought into effect european conventions on human rights
- wide range of rights
- politically binding and parliament rarely ignores
What was the Freedom of Information act 2000?
- Allows citizens to view any information withheld about them
- from public bodies
- used for social and political campaigns
- improved services as promoted reform
What is the equality act 2010?
- established formal equality
- discrimination outlawed
- equality required in - age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage, race, religion and sexual orientation
Weaknesses in protection of rights and liberties
- common law can be vague and disputed
- parliament remains sovereign
- increasing pressure on government due to international terrorism to reduce rights for national security
What are citizen responsibilities?
- obey laws
- pay taxes
- undertake jury service
- take care of children
- serve in armed forces
- vote in elections and referendums
- respect rights of all other citizens
- respect dominant values of society
What are collective rights?
responsibilities of communities in society
What are individual rights?
responsibility of a citizen
What are the problems between individual and collective rights?
- When they clash can cause problems
- no solution to conflicts
- political adjudicate
- may end up in court for resolution
What is rule of law?
citizens should all be treated equally under the law and that the government itself should be subject to the same law as its citizens
What is independent judiciary?
to ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that the government does not exceed its authority
What is limited government and constitutionalism?
limiting the power of government usually by a constitution enforced in law
