Negative aspects of UK democracy

Question 1

Define ‘democratic deficit’

Answer 1

A term used to describe the undemocratic nature of institutions or procedures that are supposed to promote democracy

Question 2

What is the problem with an unelected, hereditory monarchy and an unelected house of lords?

Answer 2

They undermine the concept of representative democracy

Question 3

What are the only ways a member of the house of lords can be removed?

Answer 3

Death, expulsion, failure to attend a single parliamentary session over the course of a year or comitting a serious offence

Question 4

What is the problem with the measures currently in place to curb the influence of unelected bodies?

Answer 4

Their powers are only limited theoretically, as docotrines like the salisbury convention can be ignored by the lords if they wish

Question 5

How many hereditory peers remain in the system?

Answer 5

92

Question 6

What phenomena makes the lords seem even more undemocratic?

Answer 6

Cronyism

Question 7

Give a recent example of cronyism in the house of lords

Answer 7

When Boris Johnson created 36 new peerages in 2020, most of which went to former conservative MPs and Brexit supporters

Question 8

Give a recent example of the lords ignoring the salisbury convention

Answer 8

When they proposed as series of proposed cuts to the tax credit system in 2015, even though the government presented the cuts as a financial measure, something the lords are expected not to intervene in

Question 9

How did the lords justify breaking the salisbury convention in 2015?

Answer 9

They claimed the tax credit system cuts were a welfare, rather than a money, bill, so they were entitled to reject it

Question 10

What is participation crisis?

Answer 10

A failure of the public to participate in the political process, which can undermine democratic legitimacy

Question 11

What is turnout still substantially lower than, even considering the recent growth?

Answer 11

The historic average (75%). Or even the 1997 levels (71%)

Question 12

What is the West Lothian question?

Answer 12

Why should devolved MPs vote on things that don’t affect their constituents but do impact people outside their constituencies?

Question 13

Give a practical example of the West Lothian question being controversial

Answer 13

In 2016, the rejection of an extension to sunday trading only happened with the votes of SNP MPs, even though the issue would not affect anyone in Scotland

Question 14

How have attempts to solve the West Lothian question fared?

Answer 14

English votes for English laws failed in 2021 as it risked creating two tiers of MPs, undermining the conecept of a parliamentary chamber

Question 15

List the flaws of FPTP

Answer 15

• Wasted votes
• Safe seats
• Unrepresentative
• Winner’s bonus
• Minority constituencies
• Discriminates against parties with widespread support

Question 16

Explain the idea of wasted votes

Answer 16

Any votes cast for a candidate who does not win play no role in the selection of parliamentary representatives

Question 17

Explain the idea of safe seats

Answer 17

Some constituencies elect a candidate from the same party every election and the winning candidate’s vote share is so high that many see little point in voting

Question 18

Explain how FPTP is unrepresentative

Answer 18

Differneces in the concentrations of support means the results do not reflect the way people voted

Question 19

Explain the idea of the winner’s bonus

Answer 19

The system exaggerates the support received by the most popular party; this means the party receive more seats than are proportional to its votes, therefore boosting its parliamentary majority

Question 20

How does FPTP discriminate against parties with widespread support?

Answer 20

These parties find it difficult to gain seats and therefore representation

Question 21

What are minority consituencies?

Answer 21

In these seats, representatives only gain a plurality, meaning most of their constituents didn’t vote for them

Question 22

Why is there a lack of meaningful choice for the electorate?

Answer 22

Only two parties have a realistic chance of winning, meaning voters will often only vote for one of these two.

Question 23

Why is the two party system such a problem for voters?

Answer 23

Since the post-Thatcherite consensus, their policies have been extremely similar

Question 24

Why do pressure groups not operate on an equal footing?

Answer 24

A number of pressure groups tend to dominate the political debate at the expense of other interests. Consequently, British pressure group participation is based on elitism rather than pluralism

Question 25

List the factors that can cause a pressure group to become elitist

Answer 25

• Insider status
• Membership size
• Wealth
• Public profile

Question 26

What is the main issue with the Electoral Comission?

Answer 26

It is a reactive, rather than proactive, body. It tends to pass judgements and sanctions after something has already had its effect

Question 27

What is the problem with the Electoral Comission using fines as a punishment?

Answer 27

Compared to party finances, they are extremely small

Question 28

How have loopholes over spending emerged?

Answer 28

Because the Electoral Comission has no control over what happens on social media

Question 29

How is the lack of a codified constitution a threat to democracy?

Answer 29

Key rights can be overturned by the government without effective redress through the judicial system

Question 30

How has freedom of speech been undermined?

Answer 30

The creation of ‘safe spaces’ in some universities has been criticised in parliament for reducing opportunities for discussion and debate

Question 31

How has freedom of assembly been undermined?

Answer 31

The government stopped citizens meeting other people in their own homes or associating with them in public during the coronavirus pandemic

Question 32

How has the right to vote been undermined?

Answer 32

Despite repeated judicial instructions, parliament has not granted citizens the right to vote

Question 33

List the negative aspects of UK representative democracy

Answer 33

• FPTP leads to minority constituencies, wasted votes and unrepresentative outcomes
• Safe seats and the two-party system have led to a lack of meaningful choice
• Prisoners and 16-17 years olds are denied the franchise
• Homelessness has left many people practically, if not legally, disenfranchised
• Only around 2/3 of the electorate vote, which is quite low, calling into question democratic legitimacy
• Elitist pressure groups monopolise power
• Hyperpluralism can lead to important issues being drowned out by the sheer number of campaigns
• Parties can find loopholes around spending regulations
• The internet has allowed parties to bypass broadcasting regulations

Question 34

What is the power of the PM partly based upon?

Answer 34

The authority of an unelected monarch

Question 35

What is the consequence of the ECHR not being binding on parliament?

Answer 35

Individual rights and liberties remain under threat

Question 36

Where has the UK failed to oversee a peaceful transition of power?

Answer 36

Disputes arose and questions of legitimacy were raised following the hung parliaments of 2010 and 2017

Question 37

Why can the UK be seen as failing to deliver free elections?

Answer 37

• The head of state and house of lords are unelected
• Some groups, like prisoners, are denied the franchise

Question 38

Why can the UK be seen as failing to deliver fair elections?

Answer 38

• FPTP leads to wasted votes and disproportionate results
• Governments are often elected on a modest proportion of the popular vote

Question 39

Why can the British political system be seen as failing to engender widespread participation?

Answer 39

• Since 2001, voter turnout has been lower than in previous elections
• Party memberships is declining, especially amongst the young

Question 40

Why can the UK be seen as failing to provide freedom of expression?

Answer 40

• Most press ownership is in the hands of a few large, powerful companies, the owners of which tend to have their own political opinions
• Some information on the internet is false and detrimental

Question 41

Why can the UK be seen as failing to provide freedom of association?

Answer 41

• The government has the power to ban associations they see as based on terrorism or hatred
• Public meetings and demonstrations can be broken up on the grounds of public safety

Question 42

Why can the UK be seen as failing to protect rights and liberties?

Answer 42

• Parliamentary sovereignty means rights are at the mercy of a government with a strong majority
• The ECHR is not binding on parliament

Question 43

Why do some see the UK as failing to uphold the rule of law?

Answer 43

• The monarch is exempt from legal restrictions
• There is evidence to suggest that those of a higher socio-economic standing are likely to be treated more lenienty than those at the lower end

Question 44

Why do some people criticise the UK constitution?

Answer 44

• The is no codified constitution so the limits on government power are vague
• Parliamentary sovereignty means the government’s powers can be increased without a constitutional safeguard
• The prerogative powers of the PM are extensive and arbitrary