Evaluating Direct Democracy Flashcards
+ More democratic
+ Power always remains in the hands of the people
+ All decisions are put to a popular vote
+ Avoids distortion or corruption
+ The people decide on everything so politicians cannot meddle in the decision making
+ In 2005, the Swiss voted to ban GM crops whereas government decided we would accept them on behalf of the people
+ Encourages political participation
+ Public make all decisions
+ Greater level of political education as people need to be informed at all times
+ Increase satisfaction and support
+ People feel more influential
+ Increasingly people feel detached from their representatives
+ Single issues
+ People would be able to vote on single issues
+ No longer have to subscribe to entire manifesto
+ Satisfaction Increase
- Impractical
- Athens had 40,000 voters, the UK has 45 million
- Referenda time consuming and slow down decision making
- Ineptitude of public
- Citizens don’t have enough political or technical knowledge
- Representatives tend to be very well informed or experts in a field
- Tyranny of the majority
- People vote against a minority group
- Serbian gay marriage in 2014
COUNTER: not always the case. In 2015 the Irish voted to legalise same sex marriage where their representatives had formerly failed to do so
- Apathy
- People may get bored of constant participation
- Lack of time
- In Switzerland, 2012 mayoral elections had 20-30% turnout
