Opportunities/barriers To Citizen Participation In Democracy

Question 1

Suggestions to increase voter participation

Answer 1

•lowering voting age to 16
•making voting compulsory
•allowing online voting

Question 2

Barriers to citizenship participation

Answer 2

Lack of interest
Lack of time
No skills on how to vote
Don’t think their voice will change anything

Question 3

How citizens can participate in democracy

Answer 3

Voting
Accessing local councillors
Police and crime commissioners +MP’s
Standing for election
Using e-petitions
Joining pressure/interest groups

Question 4

Ways of how citizens can hold those in power to account

Answer 4

Campaign groups and pressure groups can bring attention or influence those in power

Question 5

Leafleting

Answer 5

Hanging out materials that support a particular veiw

Question 6

Lobbying

Answer 6

Making your views known
Approaching your local MP to raise an issue

Question 7

Interest groups

Answer 7

Advantages= provides a focus of limited range of objectives
Disadvantage=normally not a campaigning group

Question 8

Joining a political party

Answer 8

Advantage=enables people to fully engage in the political process
Disadvantage=governed by rules of the party. Meaning you don’t have total freedom of action

Question 9

Standing in elections

Answer 9

Advantage=Become fully involved in the issue
Disadvantage=limits your freedoms of speech

Question 10

Campaigning

Answer 10

Advantage=develops skills, fully engaged with the issue, motivated to bring change
Disadvantage=can become violent

Question 11

How can citizens bring about political change

Answer 11

In a liberal democracy= citizens are seen as the heart of political power
In a representative democracy=seen as a duty that citizens take part in political things so their voices can be heard

Question 12

Citizens can become more active as voting by-

Answer 12

They can join political parties, pressure groups and interest groups to influence the decision makers to bring change
Lobby their representatives to ensure that they are aware of their views
Standing for election

Question 13

Digital democracy and its impact on citizens

Answer 13

More people use technology for petitions/campaigning than writing
Social media is now a campaigning platform-Marcus Rashford free school meals act

Question 14

Future digital opportunities

Answer 14

Phones can be used to cite in elections
People’s views can be looked at ok social media

Question 15

Action to bring about political change

Answer 15

Voting
Joining pressure/interest groups
Advocacy
Lobbying
Petitions
Campaigning
Volunteering
Standing in elections
Joining demonstrations

Question 16

Joining an interest/ political party

Answer 16

Interest group=have only one specific interest and only works to promote its own interests
Want to influence policy makers by direct meetings and publication reports

Question 17

Bringing about change in the legal system=
Roles and responsibilities of citizens in the legal system

Answer 17

If the citizens of a country had no faith in the justice system it would undermine the concept of living in a democracy

Question 18

How can people take part in the justice system

Answer 18

Jury service=a group of 12 random people selected by the local electory register

Question 19

What is a witness

Answer 19

Someone who has seen a crime being committed

Question 20

Magistrate

Answer 20

People from the local communities who volunteer to administer justice in their local magistrate court

Question 21

Different forms of democratic and citizenship actions that hold those in power to account

Answer 21

Petitions
Volunteering
Joining demonstrations

Question 22

Special constable

Answer 22

A trained volunteer who works/supports their local police

Question 23

Police support volunteers

Answer 23

People who staff police station counters

Question 24

Police and crime commissioners

Answer 24

Elected people who normally stand for political party

Question 25

Tribunal member

Answer 25

Deals with specific issues and complaints

Question 26

How different groups can help people in relation to content

Answer 26

Trade unions
Pressure groups
Interest groups
Charities/volunteer groups
Public institutions and public services

Question 27

The role of organisations and groups

Answer 27

Public services=state service providers at local or national levels
Example: hospitals, schools, social services
Role: to ensure a standard healthcare and education are available to all citizens

Question 28

Pressure groups

Answer 28

Group of people who come together about an issue and try and change the situation
Example: multi cause groups and single cause groups

Question 29

Wha is an insider status

Answer 29

People who can meet and discuss with people that it influences

Question 30

What is an outsider status

Answer 30

Groups who don’t have direct access to those making decisions.
Not involved in any direct meetings

Question 31

Trade unions

Answer 31

Represent workers and their wage and working conditions
Example: TUC (trade union congress)

Question 32

Charities

Answer 32

Organisations that have government status and taxation
Example: belong children to read at a library/school
Helps the unaided

Question 33

Voluntary groups

Answer 33

Involve people working together or alone to provide services to others

Question 34

How citizens work together to change communities

Answer 34

Example: Grenfell tower 14th June 2017 a fire on a 24 sorry flat building
Lots of people decided to offer shelter and the basic human needs to those who lived in the flats

Question 35

How those what to bring change by using social media

Answer 35

Use of celebrity backing mushing social media to spread their message and gain support