Democracy in the UK Flashcards
What are the two types of democracy?
Representative and direct
What is representative democracy?
voting for a representative (who makes political decisions on our behalf)
What is direct democracy?
Voting on a specific issue
Advantages of representative democracy?
-Elected reps (should) have more capability to make/knowledge for hard choices
-reps have broader view, so can make best choices
-more efficient than laying lots of decisions before voters
Disadvantages of representative democracy?
-The FPTP system means there are many minority MPs who were not voted in by a majority of their constituents (so, wasted votes and unrepresentative outcomes in parliament)
-there is a low voting turnout (two-thirds voting in general elections), so, concerns about democratic legitimacy of the government
-‘safe seats’ mean that there is a lack of choice in many constituencies, and because only two parties have a real chance of being voted in, means less choice and fairness
What are the advantages of direct democracy?
-shows a clear view of what the people want, so there is less corruption as there is less laws which just benefit MPs
-promotes political enthusiasm and education
-enhances legitimacy and accountability, as reps/MPs cannot be blamed for negative results
Disadvantages of direct democracy?
-Public have to be informed (political education is necessary), and many are not and/or have no expertise
-public could be purposely mislead or influenced into a negative decision (rich people and public campaigns)
-majority of people may vote for something which undermines a minority group
What are the functions of democracy?
Representation, Accountability, Participation, Power dispersal, Legitimacy, Education
What is representation as a function of democracy?
A means of the people being able to put their views to the government of the day
What is accountability as a function of democracy?
The government of the day can be made to explain/take responsibility for its actions
What is participation as a function of democracy?
A way the people can be engaged and take part in the political process
What is power dispersal as a function of democracy?
A system that ensures power is spread across different political bodies to avoid one becoming too dominant
What is legitimacy as a function of democracy?
The process for the selection of different governmental branches should fairly represent the people (and have legal authority)
What is education as a function of democracy?
The political process should be open to all, and there should be an educated/informed citizenry, who understand issues and make informed choices
What does FPTP stand for?
First Past The Post
