Direct Democracy and Representative democracy.

Question 1

What does Democracy mean?

Answer 1

Democracy means government by the people.

Question 2

What does direct democracy mean?

Answer 2

Direct democracy is whereby each member of a political community votes on a particular idea.

Question 3

What is representative democracy?

Answer 3

Representative democracy is a type of democracy founded on a principle of elected officials representing a group of people.

Question 4

What are the advantages and disadvantages of direct democracy?

Answer 4

Advantages: Develops a sense of community.
Gives equal right to all votes.
Encourages popular participation.
Removes the need for trusted representatives.

Disadvantages: Impractical in a large heavily populated state.
Open to manipulation.
People feel that they cannot vote.

Question 5

What are the advantages and disadvantages of representative democracy?

Answer 5

Advantages: Politicians are more likely to be better informed.
Encourages pluralist democracy.
Allows for accountability.
Only practical system.

Disadvantages: Politicians are skilful at avoiding accountability.
Under - representation of minority groups.
Corruption and incompetence is rife.
Parties are often run by elites with agendas.

Question 6

What is a pluralist democracy?

Answer 6

Where a range of groups and values are informed in making a decision.

Question 7

What are pressure groups?

Answer 7

They seek to influence the government and do not seek to exercise power themselves to adopt their ideas.

Question 8

What are the the three main types of pressure groups and how do they differ?

Answer 8

• Sectional groups: Promote the interests of an occupation or another group in society.
• Social movements: Loosely structured.
• Cause groups: focused on achieving a goal.

Question 9

What are insider and outsider groups?

Answer 9

Insider: Rely on contracts with ministers and civil servants to achieve their aims.
Outsider: Not consulted by the government and are outside the political mainstream.

Question 10

How and why do the methods of different pressure groups vary?

Answer 10

They vary depending on resources available and their statues. Insider groups tend to negotiate quietly behind the scenes. Outside groups resort to less discreet methods.

Question 11

What are the factors that could explain why some pressure groups are more successful than other?

Answer 11

• Vary as a consequence of the wider context.

- Climate of public opinion and the willingness of the government.

Question 12

What are the functions of pressure groups?

Answer 12

• Trade unions + professional associating.
• Puts pressure on political parties/a single issue.
• Influence how an organisation operates.
• Changing public opinion/change those in power’s opinion.
• Seek to influence those with political power.
• Interest groups.

Question 13

What are methods used by pressure groups?

Answer 13

Lobbying: This is direct contact with important decision makers, policy makers and legislators. Sometimes professional lobby organisations may be used;.

Public campaigning: This involves large scale demonstrations of support for an issue or a group. It is designed to mobilize public opinion and show the level of support to decision makers.

Donations to political makers: These are legal as long as they are declared.

Media campaigns: These often feature celebrities and mobilize public support.

Civil disobedience: When other methods failed, illegal methods may be used.

Social media and e-platforms: Social media can be used to raise awareness and gain support to organize e-petitions and local action.

Legal action: Judicial reviews aim to prevent discrimination against women and minorities.

Question 14

Do pressure groups enhance or threaten democracy?

Answer 14

Enhance:

• They help to disperse power and influence more widely.
• They educate the public about important political issues.
• They give people more opportunities to participate in politics without having to sacrifice too much of their time and attention.
• They can promote and protect the interests and rights of minorities.
• They help to call government to account by publicizing the effects of policy.

Threaten:

• Some groups are elitist and tend to concentrate power in the hands of too few people.
• Influential groups may distort information in their own interests.
• Those that are internally undemocratic may not accurately represent the views of their members and supporters.
• Finance is a key factor.

Question 15

How well are rights protected in the UK?

Answer 15

Strengths:

• There is a strong common law tradition.
• The UK is subject to the European convention on Human Rights.
• The judiciary has a reputation for being independent and upholding the rule of law even against the expressed wishes of government and Parliament.
• The principle of equal rights is clearly established.

Weaknesses:

• Common law can be vague and disputed.
• Parliament remains sovereign.
• There is increasing pressure on government as a result of international terrorism.

Question 16

What are the features of political parties?

Answer 16

• Parties are associations of people who hold similar political views and wish to promote those views.
• Parties seek to gain governmental power at local, regional and national levels. The search for power distinguishes parties from other associations.
• Most parties have some kind of formal organisations, normally a hierarchy including leaders, activists and followers.
• Most parties have a system of membership.

Question 17

What are the functions of political parties?

Answer 17

• Develop policies and political ideas designed to solve problems in a society or to improve society.
• Select suitable candidates for office at all levels.
• Identify and train political levels.
• Educate the public about important political issues.
• Provide organised opportunities for people to participate on politics.
• When not in government, call the existing government to account.

Question 18

What sources of finance do political parties have?

Answer 18

• Membership subscriptions.
• Fundraising events such as fees, festivals, conferences and dinners.
• Donations from supporters.
• Loans from wealthy individuals or banks.
• Self-financing of candidates for office.

Question 19

What are the arguments for and against state funding of parties?

Answer 19

For:

• It will end the opportunities for the corrupt use of donations.
• It will end the possibility of hidden forms of influence through funding.
• It will reduce the huge financial advantage that large parties enjoy and give smaller parties the opportunity ti make progress.
• It will improve democracy by ensuring wider participation from groups that have no ready source of funds.

Against:

• Taxpayers may object to funding what can be considered to be private organisations.
• It will be difficult to know how to distribute funding.
• Parties may lose some of their independence and will see themselves as organs of the state.
• It may lead to excessive state regulations of parties.

Question 20

What are left wing and right wing ideas?

Answer 20

Left wing:

• Redistributing income from rich to poor through taxation and welfare as well as a generous minimum wage.
• Strong support for the welfare state and opposition to private sector involvement in the provision of such services.
• Support for workers’ rights and trade union power and the protection of workers’ rights.

Right wing:

• Low levels of personal and corporate taxation to encourage private enterprise and create incentives to work.
• Acceptance of private sector involvement in the provision of public services.
• The state should not interfere with the working of the economy.

Question 21

Where are the parties on the spectrum?

Answer 21

Conservative: centre-right: large right wing majority.
Labour: left, leadership is left wing but mps are centre left.
Liberal democrat: centre-left, supporters are centrist.
UKIP: right, some describe UKIP as extreme right.
Green party: left, main concern is environmentalism.
Scots nats: centre-left, independence is main policy.
Plaid Cymru: centre-left, similar to Labour.
DUP: right, unionist.

Question 22

What is the difference between ideologies, ideas and policies?

Answer 22

Ideologies: The very fundamental ideas and beliefs that underpin the development of parties.
Ideas: The main political views of virtually all those who support the party.
Policies: The policies adopted by the current leadership.

Question 23

What are the ideologies of the Conservative party?

Answer 23

• A stress on order and harmony in society.
• Opposition to strongly held ideology or political principles.
• A preference for gentle reform over radical ideas.
• A belief in individualism and a limited state.
• Support for traditional institutions and values.
• Nationalism.

Question 24

What are their prominent ideas?

Answer 24

• A pragmatic approach to political decision making.
• Low taxation.
• Financial responsibility.
• Stressing the importance of private property ownership.
• Support for capitalism.
• Preference for community rights over individual rights.
• Stress on law, order and national security.

Question 25

What are their current policies?

Answer 25

• To achieve a surplus government budget.
• To renew the Trident nuclear system.
• To negotiate the terms for leaving the EU.
• TO increase the tax-free income to £12,500 per annum.
• ## To reduce the tax burden on company profits and on middle-income groups.

Question 26

What are the fractions of the Tory party?

Answer 26

Thatcher ism: Supporting the policies adopted in the 1980s. They include neo-liberal ideas of free markets, low taxation and the weakening of trade unions.
Liberal progressive conservatism: Opposes the Thatcherite agenda and accepts the need for greater social justice.
One nation Tories: Now a small minority who wish to avoid policies which may be socially divisive.
Eurosceptics: They hope that the UK will not join the European single market or the customs union but will claim full economic independence.

Question 27

What’s the ideology of the Labour party?

Answer 27

• To reduce inequality in society.
• To regulate capitalism.
• A belief in the power of the state to promote social and economic reform.
• To balance the interests of workers against those of employers.
• To promote equal opportunities and reduce unustified privilege.

Question 28

What are their prominent ideas?

Answer 28

• Support for an extensive, well funded welfare state.
• A progressive tax system to redistribute tax income.
• Relatively high direct taxes to fund public services.
• Support for a strong, free, comprehensive education system.
• The promotion of equal rights.
• Measures to reduce poverty.

Question 29

What are their current policies?

Answer 29

• To increase taxation on the wealthiest groups in society.
• To increase taxation on company profits.
• To reduce taxation on low income groups.
• To attack evasion and avoidance.
• Significant increases in the minimum wage.
• To reverse welfare benefit cuts.
• To bring the railways, water companies and Royal Mail under public ownership.
• Large scale government borrowing for capital spending on transport, schools and hospitals.

Question 30

What are the fractions of the Labour party?

Answer 30

• The supporters of Jeremy Corbyn known as Momentum. They support left-wing socialist policies. They are sometimes referred to as old Labor or democratic socialists.
• The opponents of Corbyn and supporters of centrist policies. Sometimes they are referred to as New Labor.

Question 31

What’s the ideology of the Liberal Democrats?

Answer 31

• Strong belief in individual liberty.
• Strong belief in equality of opportunity.
• Stress on equal rights and the rule of law.
• A belief in state welfare.
• Constitutional government to prevent abuse of power.

Question 32

What are their prominent ideas?

Answer 32

• Constitutional reform to make the UK more democratic and to decentralize power.
• The redistribution of income through tax and welfare.
• Greater protection for the environment and natural resources.
• Support for private property ownership.
• A strong, free, well-supported education system to promote equality of opportunity.
• The abolition of inherited privilege.

Question 33

What are their current policies?

Answer 33

• A proposal for a referendum on any final ‘deal’ negotiated by the government with the EU.
• Strong measures to protect the environment, and to promote renewable sources of energy.
• Reignite the debate about constitutional issues such as electoral reform.
• A programme of building affordable housing.
• Reduce taxes on low-income groups.
• A vigorous attack on tax evasion and avoidance.
• Significant increases in the minimum wage.
• Large increases in spending on health, social care and education.
• Restoration of the pre-2010 levels of some welfare benefits.

Question 34

What are the factions of the Lib Dems?

Answer 34

• Most Liberal democrats support centre-left policies similar to those adopted by the centrists in the Labour party, together with a strong position on environmental control and constitutional reform.
• So called Orange book Liberals support constitutional reform and environmentalism but also support neo-liberal policies which would establish free product.

Question 35

What are examples of policies of the SNP, UKIP, Plaid Cymru, Green party and the DUP?

Answer 35

SNP: - Scottish independence.

• Failing independence, greater autononomous powers for Scotland within the UK.
• Redistribution of income from rich to poor.
• Strong support for public sector health and education.
• Investment in renewable energy.
• Cancellation of Trident.

UKIP:

• Often described as populism.
• UK to leave the European single market.
• Strong controls over immigration.
• Preference for British citizens in jobs, housing, welfare and education.
• An attack on companies that avoid and evade tax.
• Reduced expenditure on overseas aid.

Plaid Cymru:

• Similar nationalist policies to the SNP but acceptance that Welsh independence is unlikely for many years.
• Similar economic and social policies to the SNP.

Green party:

• Strong controls on environmental damage and strict emissions control targets.
• Very large investment in generation of renewable energy.
• Radical redistribution of income from rich to poor.
• Cancellation of the Trident nuclear missile programme.
• Radical constitutional reform.

DUP:

• Close ties between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
• Keeping an open border with the Republic of Ireland after Brexit.
• Resistance to liberal policies such as same sex marriage.
• Opposition to integration of religious schools.

Question 36

What are the different party systems?

Answer 36

Dominant party: - One party dominates the number of seats in the legislative body.
- The Scottish parliament.

Two-party: Only two parties have significant representation, in English constituencies.

Three-party: Three parties have significant representation, after 2015, only three parties had a significant number of seats in the House of Commons.

Multi-party: Four or more parties have a significant number of representatives elected, the Northern Ireland and Welsh Assemblies plus many local government areas.

Question 37

What are the factors affecting party success?

Answer 37

Quality of leadership: Experience, decisiveness, ability to lead, media image, intelligence, apparent honesty.

Valence: how competent were they when they were last in office, how economically responsible are they, are they trustworthy.

Unity.

Question 38

What is the influence of the media?

Answer 38

• The broadcast media have a legal requirement to be neutral. Media influence therefore centres on the press. The main aspects of press influence on the fortunes of parties are as follows:
• The press presents significant images of party leaders as being weak or strong, decisive or indecisive, charismatic or unpopular.
• By publishing opinion poll data, they may influence voting behavior.
• The newspapers have preferences for particular parties. They may therefore, present the policies of their favored parties in a more positive light.
• At election time, most newspapers recommend that their readers vote for a particular party.