Paper 1- Participation+democracy

Question 1

What is the difference between power and authority?

Answer 1

Power is the ability to make people do things they may not want to do, authority is the GIVEN RIGHT to influence other people’s behaviour/ actions

Question 2

Define Legitimacy

Answer 2

When a government is considered legitimate, most people accept that it has the right to hold power/ make rules

Question 3

What is direct democracy?

Answer 3

Where the “people speak for themselves”, they directly make the decisions, no need for an elected official.

Question 4

What is representative democracy?

Answer 4

The people vote to choose politicians who will represent their views.

Question 5

What are 3 advantages of direct democracy?

Answer 5

1. Encourages participation
2. People must take responsibility for their decisions
3. Prevents power from being concentrated in the hands of small elites.

Question 6

What are 3 disadvantages of direct democracy?

Answer 6

1. Population size (difficult + expensive)
2. Public may not have time/ interest
3. Tyranny of the majority

Question 7

What are 3 advantages of representative democracy?

Answer 7

1. More practical
   2.Representatives can implement unpopular but necessary policies
2. Avoids tyranny of the majority

Question 8

What are 3 disadvantages of representative democracy?

Answer 8

1.Representatives may not always represent the views of the public
2. Parties can have great influence over actions of representatives
3. Elections make it difficult for smaller parties to win

Question 9

What is an example of direct democracy being used in the UK?

Answer 9

Referendums (for example the vote in 2016- UK membership of the EU)

Question 10

How many seats does a party need to hold a majority?

Answer 10

326+ seats

Question 11

What is a hung parliament and give an example.

Answer 11

A hung parliament is where no single party won the majority. An example of this would be in 2017 general election, conservatives had 317 seats, then negotiate with democratic unionist party who had 10 mps (forming minority government)

Question 12

What “branch” is the government, and what is its function?

Answer 12

The executive branch, it proposes new laws and implements them once passed by parliament.

Question 13

What “branch” is parliament and what is its function?

Answer 13

The legislative branch, it debates and approves new laws while scrutinising the work of the government.

Question 14

What is the vote of no confidence?

Answer 14

The parliament can hold the vote of no confidence, if the government loses this and does not win another within 14 days, a general election is called.

Question 15

Between 1265 and 1832 what percentage of the population had the right to vote?

Answer 15

Less than 5%.

Question 16

Who did the Representation of the People Act 1918 allow to vote?

Answer 16

All men over 21, and most women over 30.

Question 17

What did the Equal Franchise Act 1928 achieve?

Answer 17

It lowered the voting age for women from 30 to 21.

Question 18

What did the Representation of the People Act 1969 achieve?

Answer 18

It extended the franchise to almost all citizens over 18.

Question 19

Who are the electorate?

Answer 19

The people who are qualified to vote in an election.

Question 20

What is the delegate theory?

Answer 20

This means that the MPs should act on the instructions of their constituents.

Question 21

What is Trustee Representation?

Answer 21

This is where the MPs (since they are experienced and educated) should consider the constituents views, but exercise their own judgement in parliament.

Question 22

What is the Party Model of representation?

Answer 22

Since most MPs owe their position to their party rather than personal popularity, the MP should vote in line with their parties manifesto, NOT the constituents.

Question 23

What is an example of percentages which reflect the UK suffering a participation crisis in recent years?

Answer 23

In 1950 the general election turnout was 83.9, whereas in 2001 it was 59.4.

Question 24

What does a low turnout threaten?

Answer 24

It threatens the Government’s legitimacy.

Question 25

What is differential turnout?

Answer 25

Varying levels of turnout across the country.

Question 26

What are 2 percentages which show that the declining turnout is generational?

Answer 26

18-24 year olds have a turnout of 54%, whereas 55-64 year olds have a turnout of 71%.

Question 27

What are 2 percentages which show that the declining turnout is due to class?

Answer 27

Turnout for upper class- 69%.
Turnout for working class- 53%.

Question 28

What is partisan dealignment?

Answer 28

Where voters no longer strongly identify with a party, their support changes between parties from election to election.

Question 29

What are 2 concerns with Representative democracy?

Answer 29

1. The elected representatives could infringe rights of the people
2. If representatives decide issues by majority rules, who/what protects rights and interests of minorities?

Question 30

What is a liberal democracy?

Answer 30

It is a representative democracy where there are limits on the government’s power, there are rights to protect individual freedoms.

Question 31

What’s one way the UK may be considered a Liberal Democracy?

Answer 31

We have regular, free, fair elections.

Question 32

What’s one way the UK may not be considered a liberal democracy?

Answer 32

The head of state is unelected (unlike in USA) and many choose not to vote which undermines the government’s legitimacy.

Question 33

What are Royal Prerogatives?

Answer 33

A number of powers retained by the monarchy that, by convention, are now used by the Prime Minister.

Question 34

What is an example of Royal Prerogatives?

Answer 34

Declaring war, signing treaties with little input from parliament.

Question 35

What is a pluralist society?

Answer 35

Power is widely dispersed and a large number of pressure groups fairly compete for influence.

Question 36

What is an elitist society?

Answer 36

Power is concentrated and only a small number of wealthy, well connected groups have a real influence.