EDEXCEL DEMOCRACY

Question 1

Arab Spring 2011

Answer 1

Saw no. of Arab states try to overthrow authoritarian regimes & try and replace them w some form of popular democracy
Saw democracy as a way to establish their freedom from oppression

Question 2

Democracy Protects Minorities

Answer 2

Ensures all groups have access to political process 
Pluralist democracy 
minorities have a free voice 
Free from discrim 
"minorities rule"

Question 3

Democracy = vital in stopping abuse of power

Answer 3

Regular re-election

Controlled by elected rep

Question 4

Docile & uninformed population

Answer 4

vulnerable to autocratic gov

Question 5

Small Elite

Answer 5

Countries like Burma, Syria & China claim to be democratic

Question 6

Civil Society

Answer 6

Power is dispersed widely among people & non-gov associations

Question 7

Benefits of Democracy

Answer 7

Establishes & protects freedoms
Protects minorities
Controls gov - preventing abuses of power
Encourages popular ppt

Question 8

Citizenship

Answer 8

Members of the political community have certain rights w respect to political institutions
Must obey the law, pay taxes , vote and engage w community

Question 9

Rights - Citizens

Answer 9

Resident in the state 
Vote in free elections 
Stand for public office 
Treated equally under the law 
Fair trial 
Enjoy civil Liberties

Question 10

Duties of Citizens

Answer 10

Obey the Laws
Accept legitimacy of gov
Pay taxes
Conscription to armed forces

Question 11

Political ppt

Answer 11

informed about issues 
online forums / petitions 
voting 
PG
Political party 
Standing for political office

Question 12

Big Society

Answer 12

Philosophy developed by David Cameron
Many functions of state should be replaced by local activism
Creation of ‘free schools’ run by local community groups
Voluntary housing associations
Citizen action groups to combat crime

Question 13

Turnout Falling?? Recently NO

Answer 13

1992 - 77.7% 
2001 - 59.4% 
2010- 65.2% 
2010- 66.1% 
2017- 68.7%

Question 14

Party membership falling?? YES

Answer 14

1980 - 1,693,156
2010 - 397,000

member of total electorate
80s - 4.12%
2010- 0.80

Question 15

Conservative Membership

Answer 15

1980 - 1.2 million

2010 - 170,000

Question 16

Partisan Dealignment - psychological attachment

Answer 16

Identify less closely w political parties
Many people - direct action themselves
Regular & Large demonstrations
Anti-university tuition fees 2010-2011
Occupy London movement - height in 2012
campaigned against excesses of capitalism

Question 17

Pressure Groups

Answer 17

RSPB membership - 1,000,000 +
UNISON - workers in public service industries - 1.3 million
National Farmers Union - 63,000

Question 18

E/Digital Democracy

Answer 18

2nd Eu Ref - 4,150,000 sig
Stop Privatisation of NHS services 238,000
debated April 2018

Difficult to assess the extent to which these have political influence
May place issues on political agenda

Question 19

How can political ppt be increased?

Answer 19

Inactive citizens = arbitrary autocratic gov
ppt - one main ways gov prevented from behaving undemocratically

Voting = compulsory ? Australia
Force citizens to make themselves more aware of political issues ?
Infringement of Civil Liberties ??

Reduce voting age 18 - 16
‘politicise’ at early age

not experienced enough to vote

BUT 16 y/o can be asked to pay taxes + should have opp to choose gov

Internet /text voting or extending voting period
Introduction of Citizenship lessons - new

Referendums - stimulate interest

Question 20

Referendums

Benefits

Answer 20

Most direct form of democracy
People demonstrate their expressed consent - more likely to accept decision
Prevent gov from making unpopular decisions
Parties unable to decide on issues effectively

Question 21

Referendums

Problems

Answer 21

Campaigns are expensive one side win bc more resources
£7m EU referendum limit
Leave Campaign said to have gone over

Danger - electorate use the referendum to express their dissatisfaction with gov

Tyranny of the majority
Technically gov by majority
No account for minority

Question 22

Representative Democracy

Answer 22

Bill of Rights - effectively transferred sovereignty to P

Question 23

Burkean Representation

Answer 23

Argues elected rep should be expected to use his judgement in the best interest of his constituents
Not merely follow the instructions of those who have elected him

Question 24

Parliamentary Representation

Answer 24

Combines Burke + development of united political parties in 19th cent

MPs expected to strike balance between their own judgement + stated policies of their parties + interests of their constituents

Question 25

Party Delegation

Answer 25

Evolved in 20th cent
Parties - increasingly disciplined + monolithic

Parliamentary whips = agents of this discipline
Age of independent MPs over
Toe the party line

Voters typically base their votes on merits of each party’s election manifesto NOT on the personal qualities of candidates

Question 26

HOC & HOL BOTH NOT SOCIALLY REPRESENTATIVE

Answer 26

2017 most representative yet

LGBT 45/650
ETHNIC MINORITIES 52 /650
WOMEN 208/650

Question 27

Direct Democracy

Answer 27

Purest Form

Avoid decisions being made purely in their own interest

People are becoming inc well informed & educated make their own judgements

Disillusioned

Question 28

Representative Democracy

Answer 28

Elected rep - superior knowledge & judgement
Avoids hasty and emotional decisions

Able to mediate between diff interests of diff sections of society

Complex issues -direct democracy - tend to be reduced to over-simplified answers
YES NO