Lesson 21 (Keal)

Question 1

Dictatorship of the Majority

Answer 1

When people vote in a referendum, whatever way they vote can’t be strayed from as referendums use direct democracy, giving the winning side an EXTREMELY STRONG MANDATE

e.g. Brexit

Question 2

Pitfalls of the Dictatorship of the Majority? (what did Thatcher say)

Answer 2

Thatcher said these are what dictators used

e.g. Hitler used these a lot

Question 3

Political consumerism

Answer 3

This is when people use their purchasing power to buy goods that they politically align with e.g. fair trade products

Question 4

Why do e-petitions matter + examples?

Answer 4

Make it easier for change to occur e.g. in 2019, the Revoke Article 50 and Remain in the EU petition secured over 6.1 million signatures, triggering debates in Parliament

(IT WAS 1 PETITION CALLED THE REVOKE ARTICLE 50 AND REMAIN IN THE EU PETITION)

Question 5

Clicktivism

Answer 5

online activism

Question 6

Pros to e-petitions, clicktivism and political consumerism?

Answer 6

Make political participation easier

Question 7

Cons of e-petitions, clicktivism and political consumerism?

Answer 7

These can only be complementary to actually voting, and unfortunately many younger people are treating these as replacements to actually voting e.g. Young people are willing to put a black square for BLM on Insta but don’t want to vote

Question 8

Franchise is the same as

Answer 8

Suffrage

Question 9

Franchise/Suffrage means…

Answer 9

having the right to vote

Question 10

Arguments for the right of franchise for 16+? (excluding 2014 in Scotland as you’ve already talked about that)

Answer 10

Responsibilities without rights - people at 16 can join the army, get a job and pay tax but can’t vote??

The interests of the youth become ignored in politics e.g. Sunak pushing for compulsory maths until 18

Irrational cut off age - 20k young people involved in youth councils, over 600 elected YMPs + citizenship education in schools since 2002

Question 11

Arguments against the right of franchise for 16+?

Answer 11

Reboot Foundation Survey - 64% of 13-17 year olds would rather give up the ability to vote than the ability to use TikTok

16 - 17 year olds should be able to enjoy their childhood and have a mind stress - free from political issues

Question 12

Counter to the Reboot Foundation Survey?

Answer 12

There is a big difference between 13 and 17 year olds

The survey didn’t say what percent was each age

Therefore, the majority of them could have been really young, so would have obviously picked TikTok

Question 13

Arguments for voting being compulsory?

Answer 13

People already have other compulsory duties like jury duty

Voters are not forced to pick a party, they can choose none of the above

Ensure greater mandate

Question 14

Arguments against voting being compulsory?

Answer 14

Hurts individual rights

Worthless votes - those who are uninterested or uninformed will vote on either a random party or ‘none of the above’ , increasing the amount of worthless votes in comparison to now

Question 15

English Votes for English Laws

legislation

Answer 15

2015

Gave English MPs a veto for certain legislation about England, or England and Wales

Question 16

Failures of EVEL?

Answer 16

Didn’t create a separate English Parliament like Scotland has

Didn’t provide fiscal autonomy for England

Question 17

Strengths of the creation of metro mayors?

Answer 17

Mayors can focus on regional issues

Question 18

Weakness of metro mayors?

Answer 18

Weakened local councils

Some mayors were much more powerful than others

E.g. London mayor has the most power

West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street has said before that he wishes he had the same policing power as London’s Sadiq Khan

Question 19

What is a free vote?

Answer 19

In the Commons

When MPs can vote on a matter without whips influencing them

Used in cases of moral or ethical concern

e.g. 2014 - David Cameron - Should gay people have the right to marry?