Democracy & Participation

Question 1

History of the franchise

Answer 1

1832 Great Reform Act
8% of population could vote
1884 all men 21+ could vote
1918 married women
1928 all women 21+
1968 all adults 18+
2016 Scotland 16/17

Question 2

When and where have 16/17 year olds been granted the vote?

Answer 2

Scotland, 2016

Question 3

Issues with extending the franchise (3)

Answer 3

Should 16/17 yr olds be given the vote?
Should voting be made compulsory?
How can you persuade more people to participate?

Question 4

How can you persuade more people to participate?

Answer 4

• change the voting day from Thursday
• change electoral system
• online voting
• easier to register to vote
• better politics education

Question 5

Reasons FOR
Should voting be made compulsory? (3)

Answer 5

• parties would address the concerns of all groups
• its a civil duty of democracy
• increase turnout which increases legitimacy of winning party

Question 6

Reasons AGAINST should voting be made compulsory? (4)

Answer 6

• you have a right to choose not to vote
• no guarantee people will make informed choices
• greater emphasis on LAB or CON (only ones people really know)
• cost!

Question 7

Reasons FOR giving 16/17 yr olds the vote? (4)

Answer 7

• increase turnout
• they have other adult responsibilities eg. Army!
• better informed through social media
• greater representation of our society

Question 8

Reasons AGAINST giving 16/17 yr olds the vote? (3)

Answer 8

• lower stake in society (less responsibilities)
• irrational and emotional
• don’t understand complex issues

Question 9

3 types of pressure groups!

Answer 9

Causal/promotional
Sectional
Social movements

Question 10

Causal groups

Answer 10

• campaign for a particular reason
• eg. Fathers for Justice (scale buildings dressed as superheroes)
• eg. Plane stupid (chained themselves around a plane with armlocks 2015 against a 3rd runway @ Heathrow) ✈️
• they will use publicly stunts
• OUTSIDER groups!

Question 11

Sectional groups

Answer 11

• groups only certain people can be part of
• represent a section of society
• eg. Teacher’s union/British Medical Association
• INSIDER

Question 12

Social movements

Answer 12

• anyone can join
• wide goals
• eg. Black Lives Matter/Not all Men but all Women
• OUTSIDER

Question 13

Insider pressure group

Answer 13

Work closely and lobby with the government

Question 14

Outsider pressure group

Answer 14

Demonstrational, don’t have close contact with the government
Rely on public attention

Question 15

Things that affect pressure group success? (5)

Answer 15

Funding
Size
Insider/outsider
Public perception
Priority on government or public agenda

Question 16

Roles of pressure groups (5)

Answer 16

• represent views
• put pressure on gov to adopt change
• hold gov to account
• educate
• increase participation

Question 17

Methods of pressure groups (6)

Answer 17

Publicity stunts
Lobbying/negotiations
Protest
Petitions
Legal challenges
Media campaigns

Question 18

Reasons why pressure groups ARE democratic?

Answer 18

• ⬆️ participation
• hold gov to account
• protect minorities
• solve issues

Question 19

What are think tanks?

Answer 19

Groups that research information (really smart people!)
- investigate topics & offer solutions
- funded by government or privately by companies
- any party can hire one
- not technically pressure groups - they are influencers
- workers are paid

Question 20

Examples of think tanks (3)

Answer 20

Left🛑
- Fabian Society (equality)
Right🔵
- institute for economic affairs

ADAM SMITH INSTITUTE
- helped Maggie Thatcher with trade policies

Question 21

Lobbyists

Answer 21

Professionals paid by clients who want to influence the government
They can be anonymous!

Question 22

Cooperations

Answer 22

Big businesses
Powerful and sometimes try to lobby the government
- eg. Google told off for not paying enough tax 2005