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Politics - UK Politics (Component 1) > Democracy & Participation > Flashcards

Democracy & Participation Flashcards

1
Q

Direct Democracy

Features/Advantages/Disadvantages

A

Direct Democracy - When the electorate decides on policy initiatives without the use of elected representatives (e.g. referenda)

Features:

  • Based on Athenian Democracy.
  • Uses Referendums.
  • Usually involves significant, irreversible constitutional change (UK).

Strengths:

  • Gives people power in decision making
  • Gives equal weight to votes
  • Encourages political participation
  • Develops community and debate

Weaknesses:

  • Slows legislative process
  • Tyranny of the Majority
  • Many do not feel qualified to participate
  • Impractical in a large, populated state

Examples:

  • 2016 EU Referendum (52-48%)
  • 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum (55-45%)
  • 2011 Alternative Vote Referendum (60-30%)
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2
Q

Representative Democracy

Features/Advantages/Disadvantages

A

Representative Democracy - When the electorate elects representatives to vote on policy initiatives on their behalf

Features:

  • Regular Elections
  • Representative Assemblies
  • Government/Representative Accountability
  • Parties represent their members
  • Pressure Groups represent their members

Strengths:

  • Practical in a large, populated state
  • Elections hold representatives to account
  • Gives coherence and a better choice
  • Politicians are generally better informed than the average citizen

Weakness:

  • Could reduce participation as people hand responsibility to politicians
  • Parties/Pressure Groups are run by elites with their own agenda
  • Minorities can be underrepresented
  • Politicians can be corrupt and incompetent

Examples:

  • General Elections
  • Local Elections
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3
Q

Pluralist Democracy

A

Political System where there is more than one centre of power:

  • Power and influence is not concentrated excessively (e.g. Devolution)
  • Legal and Cultural Tolerance (e.g. Independent Judiciary)
  • Political Parties are free to operate and join.
  • Pressure Groups are free to operate and join.
  • Free Media.
  • Free/Fair Elections
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4
Q

The Case for Reform

A

Under-representation of Minority Viewpoints in the House of Commons:
- Parliament uses FPTP, which means that vote share and number of seats won are not proportional.

House of Lords lacks Democratic Legitimacy:

  • The House of Lords is wholly unelected.
  • Although reforms such as the House of Lords Act 1999 sought to remove hereditary peers and introduce an Independent Appointment Commission, reform has generally been limited.

Lack of Protection for Citizens’ Rights:

  • The ECHR was formally incorporated into UK Law in the Human Rights Act 1998.
  • However, as courts can ‘derogate’ from the Act at their discretion, this arguably creates inadequate protection of rights.

Control of the Media:

  • 5 billionaires control 80% of the UK’s media.
  • The Murdoch has owned a number of newspapers simultaneously, such as The Sun, The Times, and the Sunday Times.
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5
Q

Issues in UK Politics

(Democratic Deficit/Participation Crisis)

A

Democratic Deficit - Deficiency in the way a particular democratic body works, especially in terms of accountability and control (e.g. the House of Commons and PMQs)

Participation Crisis/Political Apathy - Lack of engagement with the political system (e.g. a low turnout in an election)

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6
Q

Positive Features of UK Democracy

A
  • Free Media (lack of regulation regarding what can/can’t be published)
  • Independent Judiciary (Constitutional Reform Act 2005, separating the Judiciary from Executive and Legislature)
  • Devolved Governments (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland have their own regional Parliaments/Assemblies)
  • Free/Fair Elections
  • Wide Range of Parties/Pressure Groups
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7
Q

Negative Features of UK Democracy

A
  • Under-representation of Minorities (FPTP)
  • House of Lords lacks Democratic Legitimacy (Unelected, Lords Spiritual, etc)
  • Lack of Protection of Citizens’ Rights (Govt can derogate from Human Rights Act, as it is statute law it can be repealed)
  • The Media is controlled by wealthy, unaccountable business interests (e.g. Rupert Murdoch)
  • Growing Apathy (Avg Turnout 1945-1997 was 76%, since 1997 this is 66%. National Party Membership has fallen from 3.8% in 1983 to 1%)
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8
Q

Franchise in the UK

A

Franchise - Having the right to vote in a public election

People without the Franchise in the UK:

  • Under 18s
  • Non-British Citizens (apart from Irish citizens)
  • People who have not registered to vote
  • People convicted of Electoral Fraud
  • Members of the House of Lords
  • People detained in a Psychiatric Hospital
  • People in Prison
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9
Q

Great Reform Act (1832)

A

Introduced by the Whig PM Lord Grey and was the first major piece of electoral legislation.

  • Abolished ‘rotten boroughs’ and created urban seats in places like Manchester
  • Extended the Franchise to new groups, such as Shopkeepers, Tenant Farmers, Small Property Holders
  • Created a standard qualification for the Franchise
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10
Q

Reform Act (1867) & Reform Act (1884)

A

The Reform Act (1867) was introduced by Tory PM Benjamin Disraeli

  • Extended Franchise to Men 21+ who rented rather than owned, which essentially allowed working class men to vote for the first time.
  • The electorate rose from about 1.4million to about 2.5million, however, this was still only about 10% of the population, and it was mainly middle class people who could vote.

The Reform Act (1884) was introduced by Liberal PM William Gladstone

  • Extended Franchise concessions made to borough seats to the country, so farmers and miners could now vote, for example.
  • Men 21+ could vote providing they either paid £10+ annual rent, or held land with a value of £10+.
  • Around 5million could vote, which was about 18% of the population.

-

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11
Q

Representation of the People Act (1918)

A

Introduced by Liberal PM David Lloyd George

  • Extended the Franchise to all men aged 21+, regardless of wealth/income
  • Enfranchised women aged 30+ who themselves or their husbands met a property qualification, which gave 2/3 of UK women the vote
  • 75% of the population could now vote
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12
Q

Equal Franchise Act 1928

A

Introduced by Tory PM Stanley Baldwin

  • The qualifications for female suffrage were made the same as men, meaning all adults over the age of 21 could now vote.
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13
Q

Representation of the People Act (1948)

A

Introduced by Labour PM Clement Attlee

  • Plural Voting Abolished (1 Person = 1 Vote)
  • Abolition of University Constituencies
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14
Q

Representation of the People Act (1969)

A

Introduced by Labour PM Harold Wilson

  • Extension of the Franchise to all adults aged 18+
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15
Q

Suffragists

A

Suffragists were members of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, founded in 1897 by Millicent Fawcett.

  • Suffragists were mainly middle-class women who believed in non-violent methods of persuasion, such as peaceful protests and petitions
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16
Q

Suffragettes

A

Suffragettes were members of the Women’s Social and Political Union, founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst.

  • Members were mainly working and middle-class, and used more militant tactics such as disrupting political meetings and breaking windows of government offices.
  • In 1913, Emily Davison through herself under the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby, killing herself to raise awareness of the suffragette movement.
17
Q

Suffragists vs Suffragettes

A

Some historians argue that the work of Suffragists has been largely discarded by modern historians/activists, and that violent Suffragettes actually alienated potential supporters. Others argue that the right for women to the vote came from their efforts in filling vital industry during WW1, not due to their political activism.

18
Q

Votes at 16 - For & Against

A

For:

  • Youth Political Groups exist (e.g. Party Youth Wings, UK Youth Parliament)
  • 16 Year-Olds can leave school, work, and join the military, so they should be allowed to vote
  • More Political Engagement (3/4 of 16 Year-Olds voted in 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum)
  • Exists in Scotland and Wales
  • Young People should be allowed a say on their future (2016 EU Referendum, Young People wanted to Remain)

Against:

  • Some Young People lack Life Experience/Maturity
  • Political Education in Schools is lackluster
  • Rights of 16 Year-Olds is limited, and very few are full-time employed
  • 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum attracted unusually high levels of support
  • Most countries deny 16 Year-Olds the vote
19
Q

Pressure Groups

A

Pressure Group - An association of people whose purpose is to further the interests of a specific section of society or to promote a particular cause.

20
Q

Sectional Groups/Cause Groups/Social Movements

A

Sectional Groups - A group which represents the specific interests of a section of society (e.g. Trade Unions)
Cause Groups - A group which represents a cause rather than the interests of its members (e.g. Green Peace)
Social Movement - A loosely structured cause group, which tend to be more radical (e.g. Extinction Rebellion)

21
Q

Insider/Outsider Groups

A

Insider Groups - Groups that operate inside the political system, and are often consulted by the government (e.g. National Union of Teachers)
Outsider Groups - Groups that have limited links to the government and seek to influence decision making through mobilizing public opinion (e.g. Green Peace)

22
Q

Methods of Pressure Groups

A

Lobbying - Using government connections to offer advise on legislation, in return for influence. Briefing MPs on issues of concern, and giving evidence to select committees.
Email Campaigns - Sending Emails to people to raise publicity for themselves and/or an issue
Petitions - Getting people to sign a petition in order to show popular support for change
Demonstrations - Protests, sometimes encouraging civil disobedience.

23
Q

Factors in the Influence of Pressure Groups

A

Resources - Large membership will mean that the group will likely have better financial support, and a larger base of activists to sway public opinion. The RSPCA employs 1600 people and has thousands of volunteers, and can also run TV ads.
Tactics/Leadership - Experienced and capable leaders are vital to success; the RSPCA played an important role in the ban on hunting with dogs in 2004, in collaboration with other pressure groups.
Public Support - Pressure Groups with more public support are more successful: the Snowdrop Campaign to ban handguns following the 1996 Dunblane School Shooting won support from both the public and media.
Government Attitudes - Contracts in the government/civil service is important, as government will listen to groups with common ground and specialist knowledge: the National Farmer’s Union’s links to DEFRA were important in introducing the 2013 Badger Cull.

24
Q

Comparison between Pressure Groups

Case Study

A

British Medical Association (BMA) - Trade Union (Sectional/Insider)

Methods:

  • Strikes
  • Lobbying

Influence:

  • Briefing MPs and Peers on medical matters
  • Providing written/oral evidence to select committees/inquiries (e.g. COVID-19)
  • Influencing legislation (e.g. 2001, gained govt recognition over recruitment issues)

Extinction Rebellion (XR) - Social Movement (Cause/Outsider)

Methods:

  • Civil Disobedience
  • Protests/Rallies
  • Publicity Stunts
  • Inconveniencing the Public

Influence:
- Little influence, although the movements is sympathetic to left-leaning parties, so they can influence climate change-related policy in those parties.

25
Q

Think Tanks

A

Groups of experts who investigate topics and offer solutions to complicated issues

  • The free-market shift of the Conservatives is mainly due to the patronage of right-wing think tanks like Centre for Policy Studies and Adam Smith Institute.
  • In 2009, Ian Duncan-Smith set up Centre for Social Justice, which helped him implement policy as Work and Pensions Secretary.
  • Many have used think tanks as a springboard for a political career, like David Miliband, who became an advisor for Blair and a senior government minister.
26
Q

Lobbyists

A

Members of organizations who are paid by clients, seeking to influence policy.

  • This is very controversial, as they essentially entrap MPs with financial benefit, which is strictly forbidden.
  • It is an extension of public lobbying, although some would deny the legitimacy of this, as it is mainly wealthy people using money to gain influence.
  • In 2014, it was made a legal requirement that lobbyists had to register their activities with politicians.
  • £2 billion is spent on lobbying each year.
27
Q

Corporations

A

Large businesses with a role in government is an area of concern for some democracy campaigners.

  • Some have described a ‘revolving door process’ where politicians take up jobs at corporations to serve as a middle-man between the government and the corporation, upon leaving office.
  • A number of people appointed to the House of Lords are business leaders (e.g. Lord Sugar). In 2022, it became known that the government had awarded a £200 million PPE contract to Baroness Mone, a Conservative Peer.
28
Q

Rights/Legal Obligations/Moral Responsibilities

A

Rights - A legal entitlement to certain freedoms under law (e.g. Right to a Fair Trial)
Legal Obligations - A legal duty to perform an action, enforced by a court of law (e.g. Jury Service)
Moral Responsibilities - Acting within a moral obligation (e.g. Recycling)

29
Q

Magna Carta (1215)

A

Document drawn up by the nobility, to limit the power of King John:

  • No free man shall be seized/imprisoned
  • No free man shall be stripped of their rights/possessions
  • No free man will be outlawed/exiled, and only lawful force will be used against them
  • No one will be denied rights or justice

This sets out the basic rights for people.

30
Q

European Convention on Human Rights (1950)

A

Drawn up by the Council of Europe. Similar to the UN Declaration of Human Rights, as a response to the atrocities committed in WW2.

The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg to hear cases from people who felt their country had infringed their rights.

31
Q

Human Rights Act (1998)

A

Passed by Labour in 1998, incorporating convention and the ECHR into statute law:

  • Right to Life
  • Prohibition of Torture/Degrading Treatment
  • Freedom from Arbitrary Arrest
  • Right to a Fair Trial
  • Rights to Privacy
32
Q

Equality Act (2010)

A

Brought together earlier legislation which sought to outlaw discrimination (1970 Equal Pay Act, 1975 Sex Discrimination Act, 1976 Race Relations Act). 9 characteristics were established, which became illegal to discriminate against:

  • Age
  • Disability
  • Marriage
  • Civil Partnership
  • Pregnancy
  • Maternity
  • Race
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Sexual Orientation
33
Q

Judicial Review

A

The power of the Judiciary to review and possibly reverse actions by other branches of government that either break the law or are incompatible with the Human Rights Act.

Successful Challenges:

  • Right to Remain for Gurkhas (2005)
  • Inadequate Public Consultation for HS2 (2013)
34
Q

Pros/Cons of Judicial Review

A

Some argue that Judicial Review defends rights by scrutinizing the legality of the government’s actions.

Others argue that it places too much power in the hands of unelected and unaccountable judges (‘governing from the bench’):

  • The creation of Privacy Laws appeared to give priority to Article 8 of the ECHR (right to privacy) over Article 10 (freedom of expression). Specific legislation was not passed by Parliament, and was not explicitly covered by common law.
  • Wealthy individuals have an unfair advantage, as they can afford legal action. Max Mosley (the FIA President) sued the News of the World for publishing articles about his sex life, which breached his privacy, although he failed later legal action in the European Court of Human Rights
35
Q

Pros/Cons of the Human Rights Act (1998)

A

Some would argue that the Human Rights Act is good as it protects the rights of citizens from the government and prevents the threat of a misuse of power.

Others argue that, in its current form, it benefits certain individuals more than it protects the legitimate rights of the British people, and that the UK Supreme Court should supersede European Courts:

  • Abu Qatada was a radical Islamic terrorist who managed to evade deportation to Jordan, as it was argued evidence against him was obtained under torture.
  • Abu Hamza was a radical Islamic preacher who supported terrorism; Britain attempted to extradite him to the USA where he would face further charges, but this was temporarily blocked by the ECHR due to fears of inhumane treatment
36
Q

Civil Liberty Pressure Groups

Case Studies

A

Liberty is a cause/insider group promoting human rights and civil liberties.

Methods:

  • Briefing MPs and Peers
  • Providing written/oral evidence to select committees/inquiries
  • Influencing legislation
  • Working with the media on current affairs relating to human rights

Forest is a cause/outsider group promoting people’s right to smoke tobacco.

Methods:

  • Influence politicians through media/public campaigns
  • Lobbying politicians

Politics - UK Politics (Component 1) (4 decks)

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