Key Terms: Democracy And Participation

Question 1

Legitimacy

Answer 1

The rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely-held agreements, such as a government’s right to rule following an election or a monarch’s succession based on the agreed rules.

Question 2

Legitimacy

Answer 2

The rightful use of power in accordance with pre-set criteria or widely-held agreements, such as a government’s right to rule following an election or a monarch’s succession based on the agreed rules.

Question 3

Direct democracy

Answer 3

• All individuals express their opinions themselves and not through representatives acting on their behalf.
• This type of democracy emerged in Athens in classical times and direct democracy can be seen today in referendums.

Question 4

Representative
democracy

Answer 4

A more modern form of democracy through which an individual selects a person (and/or political party) to act on their behalf to
exercise political choice.

Question 5

Pluralist democracy

Answer 5

A type of democracy in which a government makes decisions as a result of the interplay of various ideas and contrasting arguments
from competing groups and organisations.

Question 6

Democratic deficit

Answer 6

A flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with
sufficient democratic input or subject to accountability.

Question 7

Participation Crisis

Answer 7

A lack of engagement by a significant number of citizens to relate to the political process either by choosing not to vote or to join or
become members of political parties or to offer themselves for public office.

Question 8

Franchise/suffrage

Answer 8

Franchise and suffrage both refer to the ability/right to vote in public elections. Suffragettes were women campaigning for the right to
vote on the same terms as men.

Question 9

Think tanks

Answer 9

A body of experts brought together to collectively focus on a certain topic(s) – to investigate and offer solutions to often complicated and seemingly intractable economic, social or political issues.

Question 10

Lobbyists

Answer 10

A lobbyist is paid by clients to try to influence the government and/or MPs and members of the House of Lords to act in their clients’ interests, particularly when legislation is under consideration.

Question 11

Partisan De-/Alignment

Answer 11

Partisan alignment: people strongly identify with a political party

Partisan de-alignment: people strongly identify with a political party much less